A system to deal with workplace stressors
Obvious, a Bengaluru-based product-strategy agency, has what it calls “Employee Handbook” that would leave no employee in any doubt about their rights. It also lists out what those in positions of authority should do for those under their watch.
Significantly, the ‘Employee Handbook’ reserves sufficient space for issues such as stress and burnout and spells out how interventions can be planned and executed. “If someone is showing signs of burnout, they should take time off to focus on things that are relaxing and improve their overall health and welfare,” reads an entry in the Handbook. The handbook also asks manager/ team leads to evaluate the team’s state of mind.
“Address possible burnout by discussing options with your team member to manage contributing stressors and evaluate the workload,” reads another note.
A mental health policy was put in place less than a year ago, and what this means is made clear through such entries in the Handbook.
“As an organisation that was growing, some of us acquired the vocabulary of mental health. Most of our clients, generally series A stage start-ups, operate in fast-paced work environments. We understand the crucial role that the workplace plays in defining one’s sense of stability. In order to normalise, and remove stigma, from the practice of mental hygiene, we decided to formally articulate our mental health policy and provide initial support to our employees,” says Tanvi Bhakta, product engineer, who was also part of the team that framed the policy.
An informal space for employees to clear ‘the cobwebs’
With the support of the HR department and the city operations team, the Pune chapter of the non-profit organisation Teach For India recently started ‘Care for Fellows’, a programme that provides a space for employees to recharge themselves by clearing the cobwebs of the mind.
The team behind this initiative believes in the power of communication to help with matter of the mind.
“Here, we have created an informal space where employees can talk about themselves, be on their own,” says a member of this team. The team has also put out a list of mental-health professionals that employees can connect with.
Teach for India is a non-profit organisation that recruits college graduates and working professionals to serve as full-time teachers at low-income schools for two years.
Raashi Thakran, who is currently on an internship with the Pune chapter, seeks to promote mental health awareness, and she believes this initiative by the non-profit organisation is commendable.
“I was happy when my manager, Malavika Moodliar, said the management wanted employees to talk about mental health and promote a culture of openness,” says Raashi, who is now part of the team that is fine-tuning the mental-health programme at this organisation.
Every organisation needs ‘mental health allies’
Organisations should encourage helpful discussions around mental health, to help employees deal with any mind-related struggles they may be going through. In some cases, certain employees may take the lead and drive these conversations to help others who may be in some sort of distress.
Amit Paul is one of them. At his organisation, he likes to be called a “mental health ally”, for he tries to give a patient ear to anyone who may be battling depression with the objective of helping them overcome it. He does not have a problem admitting that he himself has come back from the brink, and put his life together again.
“Colleagues around me know about what I have been through and I do talk about it to reduce the stigma attached to it,” says Paul who works with an multinational consulting firm.
“I have colleagues coming up to me just because they know I have been through similar situations. More often than not, you need somebody to listen to and workplaces must promote such a culture,” adds Paul.
Help online and offline
Adishi Gupta believes among the employee-wellness programmes in corporate India, mental-health is considerably lower down on the list of priorities.
Adishi has joined with Ayushi Khemka, a doctoral scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, to start Mental Health Talks India, which they define as a “safe online space for people battling mental health issues to share their stories. “We tell people we are not trained therapists. We only lend an ear to those in distress,” says Ayushi. They create content that seeks to build awareness for those who are showing signs of mental illness. They also conduct offline events.
“At our next meet at JNU, we want fellow students to write messages to show ‘they care’ or ‘they can help’ or ‘they are not alone in this’,” says Ayushi.
‘Let us keep the conversation going’
Indu Gopal, an HR professional, leads a support group for women dealing with depression resulting from various situations, personal and professional.
The group functions on the premise that sharing leads to healing.
‘Project Kintsugi’ — as it is called — gets women to share such stories. Essentially, the group comes together to listen to each other’s stories.
Indu says that members of the group lend an ear to people who are depressed on account of these problems. “The support group is just a quick fix; we encourage the person to seek professional help,” she says.
The group has had meet-ups in Chennai. Being in the HR space, Indu is keen on having something similar to Project Kintsugi going at her workplace.
“I have had a supportive team at my workplace, but there is scope for creating more awareness and break the stigma around mental health,” says Indu.
