MIDLAND, Texas —
While it’s important for employees to keep track of their mental health, Thriveworks psychotherapist Deidra Fuller says it’ just as important for their places of work to show support as well.
“We do need to take into consideration that mental health needs to be looked at just like physical health and we need to be awarded the same benefits, so to speak, and so as an employer, if you're finding health insurance for your employees, make sure it has mental health coverage," said Fuller.
But bosses, supervisors, and business owners need to make sure their own mental health is also in check because if not Fuller says it can affect productivity just as negatively as employees with poor mental health and could affect the mental health of their employees as well.
“When the boss or the business owner is not well themselves or struggling with whatever it is they're struggling with, they may not be as compassionate when they walk down the hall. They may have a, you know, a stressed face or they may call in sick a lot, or they may be really grumpy, or they, you know, may retreat and avoid or other coping skills, drink too much things like that. So, they really do need to be emotionally healthy in order to lead an emotionally healthy environment."
The most important thing is that there is an open line of communication between superiors and their employees, that way when either side is not feeling well it can be addressed effectively.
Therapist Deidra Fuller said, “If I'm an employee and I'm struggling with something, I need to feel safe to go to my employer and say I'm struggling. You know, I just want to let you know I'm struggling, I don't need to hear well, you just need to figure it out. I need to hear, hey, tomorrow will be better, what can I do to help you? so, if we can have that open communication, I think that's probably the most important.”