We all need a little help sometimes. Worldwide, nearly one in seven people suffers from mental health issues. These can affect more than just our minds and moods. Poor mental wellbeing has physical effects, leading to:
- Low productivity and performance
- Difficulty focusing on tasks
- Poor communication with colleagues
- Physical dysfunction
Alison has partnered with Welliba, a digital platform focused on improving mental wellbeing in the workplace through psychometric testing. Addressing core issues of poor mental health can enhance employees’ physical, psychological, and emotional well-being, leading to a more positive and productive environment.
Together, we’ve designed the Mental Health & Wellbeing Check-up, a free psychometric test that measures your emotional and physical wellbeing at work.
Importance of Mental Health at Work
We spoke with Lena Justenhoven, a product expert at Welliba, about the importance of mental health at work and how our Mental Health & Wellbeing Check-up can improve your work-life.
Why is it important for employees to look after their mental health?
“On the preventative side, looking after their mental health prevents them from developing mental illness. Often, the first symptoms of mental illness appear years before the actual diagnosis, so they often go unnoticed. Therefore, detecting an emerging mental illness early on is highly desirable before becoming chronic.
“Mental health is a goal: It feels good to be mentally healthy! There are more positive emotions and more enjoyment in your activities, both at work and in your personal life.
“On the growth side, we know that mental health is connected to many positive and desirable outcomes: better physical health, better relationships, more success in one’s career, better resilience in times of adversity and higher levels of creativity.”
61% of employees feel that their mental health negatively impacts their performance, and 81% of employees believe that businesses should enable a superior employee experience.
Should businesses invest in their workforce’s mental well-being?
“Absolutely. 61% of employees feel that their mental health negatively impacts their performance, and 81% of employees believe that businesses should enable a superior employee experience.
“Wellbeing impacts sick leave, performance, productivity, engagement, learning agility etc.”
How can businesses look after their employees’ mental health?
“Businesses should empower employees to understand wellbeing, reflect on their wellbeing, and provide actionable and on-demand insights to plan their journey.
“They can do this by providing the workforce with the tools to get self-insight. This enables employees to take control and, at the same time, provides them with guidance, support and resources to act on their personal needs.”
How does the Mental Health & Wellness Checkup work?
“The user answers questions on the different aspects of wellbeing and gets personalised feedback.
“It is a tool for self-reflection that provides reliable, science-backed insights into the concept of wellbeing. It also offers actionable insights and tips on where and how to start an individual wellbeing journey.”
What is workplace psychometric testing?
“It means assessing various characteristics of employees working in an organisation… personality, cognitive ability (intelligence), motivation or wellbeing.
“The goal is to determine who would be the best fit for a particular job within the organisation for both external recruitment and internal promotion. For this, we usually measure cognitive ability and personality.
“Another goal is to determine which interventions would be appropriate for which employee. For example, who needs which kind of training, workshop, coaching, etc.
“We can look at ability, personality, motivation and wellbeing.
“Good quality psychometric tests are developed on a sound scientific basis and evaluated according to predefined quality criteria.”
How does Welliba use psychometric testing to determine a person’s mental wellbeing?
“We have a science-based model of wellbeing and developed a questionnaire assessing the aspects of this model.
“The wellbeing model looks at to what extent the person feels happy and good, but also at factors like meaning and purpose in life or quality of relationships.
“The person answers questions on mood, sense of meaning, purpose or relationship quality. Based on this, we can provide the person with feedback on where they are on the different aspects of wellbeing and their overall wellbeing.
“Additionally, ideas on maintaining an already high level of wellbeing and improving areas that are not quite as strong yet are presented.”
In what ways can employees improve their mental health at work?
“Many internal factors impact wellbeing at work. How a person approaches situations and tasks, generates opportunities, utilises strengths, activates personal resources, deals with setbacks etc., are fundamental for wellbeing.
“The more a person is aware of their preferences, behavioural tendencies, motives, and abilities, the better they can address situations, shape their learning and development, and ultimately improve their wellbeing at work and in life.”
It’s clear that taking care of your mind improves decision-making, organisation, and resilience to daily stresses. You’ll feel better, get more done, and thrive at work. Take the Mental Health & Wellbeing Check-up now and start making the best of your workday. Share our wellness tool with friends and family to spread the benefits!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is mental health important in the workplace?
Mental health is crucial in the workplace because it affects more than just our minds and moods. Poor mental health can lead to low productivity, difficulty focusing on tasks, poor communication with colleagues, and physical dysfunction. Taking care of your mental health can enhance your overall well-being, leading to a more positive and productive work environment.
- What is the Mental Health & Wellbeing Test?
The Mental Health & Wellbeing Check-up is a free psychometric test designed by Alison in partnership with Welliba. It measures your emotional and physical well-being at work, providing personalised feedback to help you understand your current state of mental health and offer actionable insights to improve it.
- How does the Mental Health & Wellbeing Test work?
The test involves answering questions on various aspects of wellbeing. Based on your responses, you receive personalised feedback that provides a snapshot of your current wellbeing status. This feedback helps you identify areas to focus on for improvement, offering tips and insights to kick-start your mental well-being journey.
- What is workplace psychometric testing?
Workplace psychometric testing involves assessing various characteristics of employees, such as personality, cognitive ability, motivation, and wellbeing. The goal is to determine the best fit for a job, understand employees’ needs, and provide appropriate interventions like training, workshops, or coaching.
- How does Welliba use psychometric testing to determine mental well-being?
Welliba uses a science-based model of wellness to develop a questionnaire that assesses aspects like mood, sense of meaning, purpose, and relationship quality. The responses provide feedback on an individual’s well-being, offering ideas on maintaining high levels of well-being and improving weaker areas.
- Should businesses invest in their employees’ mental wellbeing?
Absolutely. Investing in employees’ mental wellbeing can lead to better physical health, improved relationships, greater career success, increased resilience, and higher levels of creativity. It also impacts sick leave, performance, productivity, engagement, and learning agility, creating a more positive and productive work environment. With Alison’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment your employees can gain insights into areas where they need your help, for free.
- How can businesses support their employees’ mental health?
Businesses can support employees’ mental health by empowering them to understand and reflect on their well-being. Providing tools for self-insight, like Alison’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment, offering specific interventions based on employee needs, and providing guidance, support, and resources, can help employees take control of their mental health and improve their overall well-being.
- What are the benefits of maintaining good mental health at work?
Maintaining good mental health at work leads to positive emotions, enjoyment in activities, better physical health, improved relationships, career success, resilience in adversity, and higher creativity. It also improves decision-making, organization, and resilience to daily stresses, helping employees thrive at work.
- How can employees improve their mental health at work?
Employees can improve their mental health at work by becoming aware of their preferences, behavioral tendencies, motives, and abilities. They can gain these insights using Alison’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment. This awareness helps them approach situations and tasks effectively, generate opportunities, utilise strengths, activate personal resources, and deal with setbacks, ultimately improving their well-being at work and in life.
- What steps can I take today to improve my mental health at work?
Start by taking Alison’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment to get a personalised assessment of your well-being. Use the feedback to identify areas for improvement and follow the actionable insights provided. Regularly reflect on your mental health, seek support when needed, and practise self-care to maintain and enhance your mental wellness at work.
