2021 Survival Kit: Making Mental Health a Priority in Field Service Leadership
There’s often a disconnect between employers and their employees surrounding mental health and the role that an employer should play in providing support. 2020 brought...
Aug 17, 2021
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There’s often a disconnect between employers and their employees surrounding mental health and the role that an employer should play in providing support. 2020 brought on an increase in mental health issues, with 18.57% of adults having a mental health illness. However, this increase has created opportunities for more open conversations in the field service industry.
Whether it’s stress, burnout, or general anxiety, anyone in the field service industry can experience mental health issues. Although we’ve seen a decrease in mental health issues in 2021, employers should still help employees navigate this new normal in their personal and professional lives.
Why is mental health important in the field service industry?
Without the necessary support, your field service leadership performance can ultimately be affected by mental health issues. The CDC has found that some employee capabilities that can be affected include:
- Job performance and productivity
- Engagement with one’s work
- Communication with co-workers
- Physical ability and daily functioning
If your field service employees are experiencing any of the limitations listed, it could affect your company’s overall success. However, there are steps available to support your employees as they are managing their mental health.
Create a safe workplace for open communication regarding mental health issues.
There’s often a stigma surrounding mental health that prevents those who are struggling from speaking up. However, studies have found that talking to a supervisor to change stressful things about work was most strongly correlated with the healthiest overall workplace health scores. By creating a company culture that encourages open and honest conversations, you’ll allow employees to work through their feelings and promote a healthy work environment.
Provide employees with resources that can support positive mental health.
The CDC recommends several actionable steps that support employees as they deal with stress. Actions could include seminars or workshops that address depression and anxiety management techniques or a self-assessment tool available to all employees. These resources will help make employees feel supported and can identify issues and ultimately solve them.
Offer support for your field service leadership in accessing mental healthcare.
Employees can experience several barriers to accessing mental healthcare, including lack of insurance coverage, difficulty determining covered services, and difficulty finding providers. In addition to providing resources, your company can clearly outline what mental healthcare services are available to them and encourage them to seek help from qualified mental health professionals.
Ultimately, your field service company needs to actively work towards creating a safe environment for employees. This environment should encourage open communication and provide resources for dealing with mental health. By creating an inclusive work environment free of mental health stigma, you’ll see an improvement in your field service leadership performance.
