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Data shows that year after year, there is a rise in individuals suffering from mental health issues. This is why in our rapidly changing work environment, it's crucial for employers to understand the impact of mental health on their employees. A recent survey showed that 80% of employees will include mental health care as a consideration for choosing where to work. 

As we navigate a global landscape marked by ongoing disruption, uncertainty, and hyperconnectivity, stress and mental health issues are increasingly prevalent. By investing in mental health support like coaching and therapy, organisations can build a stronger, more resilient workforce. Here, we’ll examine what coaching and therapy are, how they can benefit employees, and how they can be implemented into employee management.

What Are Coaching and Therapy?

Coaching and therapy, though different in approach, aim to enhance the wellbeing and performance of individuals. These two can work hand in hand in creating a work environment that is more supportive of an employee's mental well-being.

Coaching

Coaching is a development-focused partnership that empowers individuals to make informed decisions, achieve their goals, and improve performance. It's a future-oriented approach that relies on active listening, constructive feedback, and empowering questions on both the coach's and the employee’s parts.

Therapy

Therapy, on the other hand, is a process of healing and self-discovery guided by a licensed professional. It provides a safe space for individuals to express their thoughts and feelings, explore their past, and develop coping strategies for personal or mental health challenges.

How Coaching and Therapy Benefit Employee Mental Health

Research has consistently shown the positive impact of coaching and therapy on mental health. The psychological growth and emotional resilience fostered through these processes can significantly improve individuals' responses to stress, thereby enhancing their mental wellbeing and performance at work.

Coaching and Self-efficacy

Coaching encourages the development of self-efficacy, a fundamental psychological construct that denotes an individual's belief in their ability to achieve set goals. This belief system, when robust, instils a level of self-confidence that allows individuals to view obstacles not as insurmountable problems, but as challenges to be overcome.

Psychologist Albert Bandura posited that self-efficacy influences the way individuals think, behave, and motivate themselves. When faced with a stressful situation, individuals with high self-efficacy are more likely to employ effective problem-solving strategies, thereby developing resilience to stress and anxiety.

This resilience, fostered by coaching, is particularly valuable in the workplace. Through the coaching process, employees can develop a growth mindset that enhances their capacity to handle work-related stress, adapt to change, and overcome challenges. This growth mindset, in turn, improves not only the mental health of employees but also their overall productivity and satisfaction at work.

Therapy and Mental Health

In the context of therapy, numerous studies have identified cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) as an effective method for treating a wide range of mental health issues, including but not limited to anxiety and depression.

CBT works by helping individuals understand the intricate relationships between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. By teaching individuals how to identify, challenge, and change destructive or distressing thought patterns, therapy enables them to manage their emotional responses more effectively.

This therapeutic approach doesn't just alleviate symptoms of mental health disorders but also equips individuals with tools to better manage stress, making them more resilient in the face of future adversities. These benefits are directly translatable to the workplace, where decreased stress levels and improved emotional management can lead to enhanced job performance and increased employee satisfaction.

Ways Organisations Can Incorporate Coaching and Therapy Into Mindful Employee Management

Mindful management entails employers and leaders implementing initiatives and internal practices that keep employees’ well-being at the top of mind. Coaching and therapy are two of the building blocks of mindful management. Organisations can incorporate coaching and therapy into their employee management strategies in several ways.

• Starting an Employee Assistance Program (EAP): An EAP can provide confidential access to professional therapists and counsellors, fostering an environment of support. As Asia's first digital mental health company backed by Temasek, ThoughFull makes this process easy, approachable and affordable by enabling access to seamless end-to-end mental healthcare all in one platform - ThoughtFullChat app.
• Training Managers in Coaching Techniques: Training managers to coach team members can foster a more supportive, high-performing environment. This will help create a more open relationship as well between managers and team members, improving communication and boosting efficiency in the long run.
• Creating a Culture of Openness: ThoughtFull believes in the power of dialogue about mental health. Encourage discussions and normalise the use of therapy and coaching to reduce stigma and ease the path for employees to seek help. Initiatives like mental health breaks and skill-building programs can aid this process.
• Providing Online Mental Health Resources: The rise of telehealth has made mental health resources more accessible than ever. Providing online therapy or coaching helps employees get comfortable with seeking help.With the ThoughtFullChat app, we offer learning packs, self-care tools, and professional chats that are accessible anytime, anywhere, ensuring employees always have the support they need - anytime, anywhere.
• Implementing Peer Coaching Programs: Peer coaching is an effective method for employees to learn from one another and enhance their problem-solving skills. Peer coaching also helps create a supportive workplace culture, making mental health conversations accessible and less stigmatised.
• Offering Mental Health Days: Mental health days are a form of preventative care and a way of acknowledging the importance of mental health. These are days off specifically meant for mental rest and rejuvenation, which can be used by employees at their discretion without fear of retribution. By offering mental health days, you send a clear message that the organisation values the mental well-being of its employees and is supportive of them taking time for their mental health.

Support Employee Mental Health by Providing Coaching and Therapy

In an era defined by uncertainty, prioritising employee mental health is not just a nice-to-have, but a must-have. Implementing coaching and therapy in workplaces not only results in happier and healthier employees but also leads to better performance and productivity. As we venture into the future of work, let's strive for a culture that values and nurtures the mental wellbeing of all its employees.

Read other Employee Wellness Resources:

• The Future of Employee Wellness Programs: Trends, Impact, and Policies
• Employee Recognition Matters: Here’s How to Champion It Authentically

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