Talking to Your Employees About Stress at Work

Simple Strategies for Making Conversations about Mental Health Easier

Created by: Deborah Grayson Riegel
Keynote speaker and leadership communication consultant

What Will I Learn?

• What your role is and isn’t when a colleague shares mental health concerns at work
• How to create a climate of trust, so that colleagues feel comfortable sharing personal information
• How to mitigate bias when it comes to discussions about mental health at work
• A variety of strategies for helping your colleagues with stress at work, without overstepping
• How to ask powerful questions that feel inviting and supportive, rather than prying or judgmental
• What to do when a colleague’s stress impacts their productivity — and yours
• How to reduce stigma and increase inclusion when it comes to mental health
• What to say and what not to say to someone who is struggling
• What to do if you’re having a tough time, too

Requirements

• Students should understand that this course is not a Mental Health First Aid course
• Students should understand that this course is not training to be a counselor, therapist or other mental health professional
• Students should understand that this course is not designed to teach you to diagnose any mental health conditions
• Students should understand that this course is not a substitute for connecting your colleague with a licensed mental health resource
• Students should understand that this course is not preparing you to be part of an EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• Students should understand that this course is not a substitute for your organization’s existing practices around having these conversations

Target audience

• Anyone curious about stress, burnout, anxiety, mental health and mental illness - for themselves or others
• Professionals with people management responsibilities
• Team members and individual contributors who want to be able to support their colleagues during stressful times
• Leaders who are committed to creating a culture of inclusion and psychological safety around health and mental health
• Human Resources professionals
• Employee Wellbeing professionals
• Diversity, Equity, Culture, and Inclusion professionals