Why taking a whole health approach to employee health is the right thing to do

We often see health and wellbeing benefits that make us choose between looking after our team's physical health, such as gym passes or office yoga classes, or mental health solutions, such as mental wellbeing platforms or access to meditation/mindfulness apps.

All of these solutions are great, but fail to connect the dots between the physical and mental health of our team. We should always consider how one affects the other, so finding a solution that works on improving both physical and mental health should be a priority.

According to the Society for Human Resources Management, many employers are beginning to see the need for enhanced emotional and mental health benefits for their employees by giving them support to manage their stress levels and improve their moods to treat anxiety and depression.

A recent survey conducted by the WHO noted that the global COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the need for mental health support. Fear of contracting the virus, social isolation and financial insecurity are all new challenges that employees have to bear widely in this pandemic. Employees now also have to face new realities of working from home, whilst juggling additional responsibilities like caring for family members, children and many more. This is made even worse, as the boundaries between work and personal life are blurred with no clear lines.

These rapid changes in our work culture are likely to be retained in the form of a hybrid working environment after the pandemic, along with its challenges, namely the need for additional health support for employees remotely, especially when it comes to mental health.

Mental health encompasses our psychological, emotional and social wellbeing. Contrary to popular belief, mental health should not be treated in isolation or independently of other aspects of health. Poor physical health has been shown to increase the risk of developing mental health problems and the inverse is also very true. For example, people with depression have a higher risk of getting coronary heart diseases while people with mental health issues are less likely to receive physical healthcare that they are entitled to, leaving them vulnerable to physical health implications.

This is why, when companies or HR teams want to address the mental health concerns of their team members or employees, a holistic healthcare approach is absolutely key.

For example, when it comes to food, studies have shown that good nutrition habits such as having sufficient antioxidants & fiber from your 5-a-day, or consuming enough Omega 3 fatty acids from a mixture of oily fish, nuts & seeds, play key roles in improving mental health as well as your physical health. On the other spectrum of health, exercise or physical activity is also pertinent, as research has shown that, performing sufficient exercise & activity increases alertness, reduces stress levels and also improves mood, which are all important aspects for looking after your mental health.

Another important aspect of mental health support is the need for coaching. Especially during difficult times, having someone to talk to can be tremendously helpful. Having someone to listen empathetically can be very stress relieving and in many instances, help us reorganize our thoughts to better tackle our day to day stresses.

This is especially true, if the person on the other end of the line is a qualified coach, who can assist and guide an individual with evidence-based approaches to tackle both their physical and mental health concerns. A qualified and experienced health coach can assess an individual’s needs effectively, and prioritise the areas of concerns to achieve the health outcomes desired and required by the individual. This helps a lot, as individuals receiving such care can obtain a clear understanding of their situation and be guided with personalised suggestions on what they can do next to improve their health status, including mental health, sustainably and consistently.

We help your team feel their best so that they can do their best.

People who eat well, sleep soundly and manage stress effectively are more focused, energised and engaged. LiveSmart helps you understand how your team’s health and wellbeing is affecting your business – and offers expert-led strategies to overcome any challenges. LiveSmart provides a remote, digital-first health MOT and one-to-one health coaching to help everyone in your business feel happier and healthier.

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