Five Tips for Leaders To Support Men’s Mental Health in the Workplace

The Mental Health Commission of Canada estimates that 7 million Canadians will experience a mental health problem or illness annually. And while women are more likely to experience mental health concerns such as anxiety, men have significantly higher rates of addiction and suicide. According to CAMH, males account for more than 75 percent of suicide deaths in Canada.

Thanks to a growing movement to destigmatize mental health, more and more people have greater awareness and comfort to access the support they need. However, men still face societal and self-stigma when it comes to their mental health – a barrier that impacts their personal lives and relationships, as well as their workplace engagement and performance.

Mental Health and the Workplace

We know that mental illness is a leading cause of disability in Canada and CAMH reports that every week at least 500,000 Canadians miss work due to mental health concerns. The prevalence is high and employee mental health solutions struggle to keep up with demand. How this plays out is that employees’ unaddressed or untreated mental health challenges directly affect their ability to innovate, problem-solve, perform and fully engage in the workplace.

Additionally, the Human Resources Professionals Association reports that mental health concerns cost the Canadian economy an estimated $15 billion each year — two-thirds of which is borne by employers.

Signs a Male Employee Is Experiencing Mental Health Challenges

Some of the most common signs that might indicate a male employee or colleague is experiencing a mental health concern include:

Anger, irritability, or aggressive behaviour
Lack of interest in hobbies once found enjoyable
Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
Engaging in high-risk activities like gambling or substance misuse
Lack of energy (eg. sleep disruption, fatigue etc.)

How To Promote Men’s Mental Health in the Workplace

As a leader or manager, here are five ways you can make a difference to men’s mental health at work:

Lead by Example
One of the most powerful things you can do is lead by example. Open up and sustain the conversation about mental health and create an environment where staff feel empowered to value and care for their mental health.

Be an Active Listener
As a leader, you likely meet regularly with your team members to discuss their current project, goals and workload. During this time, listen actively to what they are saying. Are you noticing signs of mental health concerns like inability to complete tasks or handle their average workload? Or perhaps changes in their demeanour? If so, you might say “I am hearing you are having some challenges, is there anything I can do to support you?”

Know Your Staff
There are many indicators for mental health challenges, such as decreased performance or change in behaviours. Knowing your employees on a more personal level through team-building events and regular check-ins will help you be more in tune with changes that might indicate they’re experiencing a mental health challenge.

Point Staff to Resources
If you notice someone on your team is going through some possible mental health challenges, make sure employees are aware of the resources available to them. For example, your work might have extended mental well-being benefits which offer mental health therapy, coaching or other types of mental health support.

Talk to Human Resources
If you are concerned for the mental health of one of your team members, talk to Human Resources about strategies you can employ to support them. An HR professional is trained to help in all matters that relate to employees and their overall satisfaction and performance in the workplace.