The sudden changes and insecurity that the pandemic brought with it contributed to a worrying scenario in relation to the mental health of the population. People who were psychologically balanced developed some type of disorder after the pandemic and others had their conditions worsened due to the current circumstances. See below what are the main causes according to the report from WHO (World Health Organization):
1 – Fear of becoming infected, of dying, of losing loved ones and/or becoming unemployed.
2 – Anxiety about being away from friends and family for a long time.
3- High stress due to the amount of misinformation about the virus and prevention measures.
4 – There is a risk of an increase in the number of suicides among young people, as occurred during the 2008 American economic crisis.
5 – Growth of addictive behaviors, such as alcohol and other substance abuse, binge eating and excessive online gaming.
As mentioned in the research above, the fear of unemployment is one of the factors that has caused great psychological discomfort. According to the IBGE, more than 1 million Brazilians lost their jobs, and it is this uncertainty of not knowing whether they will continue in their jobs, which triggers several problems, such as anxiety disorder, depression and/or panic attacks.
Companies have a very important task at this time: ensuring the psychological health of employees, which is why it is essential to maintain transparent and efficient communication with everyone, regardless of distance. Digital channels, such as corporate application or intranet are very efficient for companies that adopted home office, but for those that continued in person, the digital murals It's been a great tool.
The role of communication:
Communication brings employees, leaders and management closer together and maintains the relationship that exists in face-to-face work. As journalism is already playing the role of informing the population, companies can opt for more relaxed and positive content, which aims at the physical and mental health of employees. See some ideas for actions to implement:
- Schedule weekly conversations between employees to share experiences during this period;
- Create fun content about leisure and entertainment during the pandemic;
- Encourage the practice of physical exercise. Invite employees who have been active to talk a little about the benefits;
- Talk about food and how it influences everyday productivity and energy.
- Demystify mental health topics. Talking about the subject is the first step in encouraging employees to open up.
Leadership is also vulnerable!
You challenges for leaders tripled during the crisis, many had to deal with mass layoffs, remote team organization, even greater demands, stressed and sick employees... All of this pressure can result in mental exhaustion. It is necessary to be attentive and provide support so that managers remain healthy and motivated, after all, they are responsible for maintaining team performance.
Understanding and empathy are essential to noticing unusual behaviors. As there is still a taboo surrounding psychological illnesses coupled with the fear of losing their job, many may feel uncomfortable talking about or seeking medical solutions. Encouraging them to understand their symptoms and begin some type of treatment is ideal for both.
