In recent years, the importance of mental health in the workplace has gained significant
attention. Along with its obvious impacts on employees’ overall wellbeing, it also has
direct impacts on their safety in the workplace. Depression interferes with a person’s
ability to complete physical job tasks about 20% of the time and reduces cognitive
performance about 35% of the time (CDC, 2019). By understanding and being aware of
common indicators of employee mental health struggles, safety professionals have the
opportunity to proactively approach mental health concerns before they develop into
safety hazards.

Making sure that employees’ have a supportive work environment which prioritizes their
mental health will allow you to maintain a safe workplace. Only 29% of participants in the
American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2023 ‘Work in America’ survey reported that
their employer offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). These programs can often
be a difference maker for an employee’s mental health and ultimately improve their ability
to work safely. Moreover, an existing issue is that far too often, employees are either
unaware of resources available to them, or are unlikely to make use of them if they think
their peers aren’t. Research published by the Harvard Business Review found that
employees are more likely to use mental health benefits when they hear that colleagues
use them too and that they want employers to speak more openly about mental health
(Giurge et al., 2024). Evidently, implementing measures to destigmatize mental health concerns is crucial.

Integrating mental health considerations into safety protocols would reinforce the
importance of mental health within the workplace. Apart from Safety leaders and other
management having regular check-ins, the implementation of a peer support program
can be beneficial (Newman, 2022). Having a set of employees at your workplace as
trained peer supporters can bridge the gap between other employees and those offering
professional mental health support that may not understand the nuances of the company
and its culture. Additionally, risk assessments and safety planning should account for the
effects of work conditions, schedules, and organizational structure on employee mental
health. This will ensure that potential detrimental factors are identified an addressed early.
Regular updates of these assessments will be necessary to be effective.

Addressing mental health in the workplace is not just a case of employee well-being, it is
a significant aspect of workplace safety. According to the APA, employees experiencing
high levels of stress are more than twice as likely to be involved in a workplace accident.
Proactively integrating mental health support into safety measures will lead to a healthier,
and safer work environment.