As mental health awareness week comes round again, it had me think about that word, awareness, what is there left to be aware of?
We’ve come a long way….haven’t we?
The Health & Safety Executive publish data each year on the number of estimated UK workers affected by workplace stress, anxiety or depression. This number rose past 800,000 in 2019 and hasn’t fallen since. You may think that number is small or not, but what isn’t small is the millions of days absence mental ill health results in; over 20m.
It may well be that we are more aware than ever of the importance of our mental health and as such now know the importance of taking time off to get well.
It is also highly likely that the toll of the pandemic is now being felt by many.
We can’t ignore the other possibility, that toxic culture and poor behaviour just isn’t providing for a psychologically safe place of work yet.
We have two fundamental psychological needs:
- To belong
- To self-actualise
These needs don’t vanish because we’re at work.
Many organisations talk a lot about inclusion, but do they really practice it in reality? True inclusivity is where we feel connected and accepted without judgement. In a culture of inclusivity, rejection, mistrust and punishment don’t exist.
To self-actualise means we need to determine our own outcomes; it speaks to the core of our psychology, to be able to experiment and make mistakes without being shut down or isolated, to learn, find value and purpose without fear of having to conform.
When these two needs are met, we thrive, we perform, and we are happy.
Psychological safety. It’s not new, but it is being more widely recognised as a cultural necessity. We are only just touching the surface of what bringing our whole selves to work means. Saying you have an inclusive culture is just a paper exercise unless you are constantly exploring what this means to and for your people.
Let’s spread awareness on psychological safety this year and keeping the conversation going.
Kirst Ritchie
