Stress Management
A lot of simple wellness activities and practices can help staff understand the role stress plays in effecting health, safety, and productivity. It is necessary to help staff understand simple stress management strategies for decreasing stress levels.
o Stress kit check out. Have stress management tools available for worker use during a scheduled break time. Consider providing relaxation music or programs including player and headphones; mat or blanket to lie on; neck pillow; eye mask; and stress massage rollers.
o Offer a stress management brown bag event at which workers can attempt different types stress management tools.
o Make certain to encourage workers to take 10-minute relaxation/exercise breaks. Post reminders.
o Give a comfortable employee break area.
o Designate a “quiet room” for meditation and relaxation, when possible.
o Make certain to work with Management to keep supervisors informed about the effects of stress in the workplace. Supervisors are often the first step in helping personnel find different ways of managing work related stressors.
o Contact the Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) for a variety of stress management information and self-assessments.
o Provide stress management self-assessments to interested staff. Follow these up with a stress management videotape, a brown bag presentation, or a community guest speaker.
Mental Wellness
Emotions and psychological health greatly affect overall health and well-being. Every health promotion program should incorporate some services, programs, resources or activities to address psychological health issues.
Mental health topics can be sensitive areas for staff members. Thus, it is imperative that you provide information in a variety of ways, workplace presentations being just one possibility.
For instance, put domestic violence resource cards in the restrooms to provide useful information in a private setting that doesn’t embarrass whoever. Other considerations include -
o When planning to offer an oratory event or presentation a neutral class title will ensure potential participants won’t be put off by the name.
For example, “Parenting in 2004″, “Positive Parenting”, or “Parent University” is much more appealing than “Stress and Parenting”.
o Be sure to allot enough time when hosting EAP/psychological health seminars for a question and answer session so participants may ask specific questions.
Always remind participants that individual help is available through the EAP and through their health benefits. Provide written contact information for your EAP, but do so discretely.
o The Staff Member Assistance Program (EAP) is an great partner and resource for wellness programming in these areas. The employee assistance program (EAP) can help find ways to address psychological health, stress, coping, and other related issues.
