The Detroit Regional Chamber’s Wellness Works team attended the 4th Annual Workplace Mental Health Conference presented by the Eisenberg Family Depression Center at the University of Michigan. It was an event focused on cultivating a culture of connection in the workplace by providing critical solutions and resources for those struggling with mental health issues. Why is this so important? According to the 2023 APA Work and Well-being Survey, at least two out of every five U.S. workers feel burned out and 81% of workers are seeking out workplaces that support mental health. Didn’t get a chance to attend the conference? This article will include discussion points, resources, and information on how you can help your workplace.
Leveraging Neuroscience for a Resilient Self and Workplace
Wellness Works closely partners with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan on the Virtual Well-Being program. Cindy Bjorkquist, M.S., the Director of Virtual Well-Being, was one of the many speakers at the conference. Resilience has been a major topic of discussion when it comes to a mental health solution.
Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to challenging experiences. More specifically, Bjorkquist points out that resilient people know their triggers and can allocate their energy to adapting and finding solutions. Some people are naturally more resilient than others, but everyone can adopt a more resilient mindset by increasing your self-awareness through mindfulness.
- Recognize physical symptoms.
- Use mindful breathing techniques.
- Be able to identify your emotions.
Bjorkquist and the Virtual Well-Being team recently hosted a webinar on the practice of “niksen,” the Dutch art of doing nothing. Though niksen looks different for every individual, some examples include:
- Listening to music.
- Spending time in nature.
- Enjoying a cup of coffee, tea, etc.
- Allow yourself to get lost in thought.
Click here to watch the full webinar.
Psychological Resilience
The National Institutes of Health suggest making efforts to boost optimism by focusing on the positive actions to change the inner narrative to an optimistic explanatory style. Examples include:
- Team collaboration.
- Foster creativity.
- Find ways to increase your oxytocin—the social hormone that promotes positive feelings.
- Find ways to increase dopamine and endorphins by doing things that make you happy.
Click here to read a previous Wellness Works blog for more information on how to boost your feel-good hormones.
How You Can Build a Resilient Workplace
- Be a role model and teach people what you learned. Think about starting small walks with coworkers, lunches, and destigmatizing your coworkers struggles. Click here to read our most recent employer guide to help you become a mental health expert in your workplace.
- Signing up for our newsletter for health information and future event dates.
- Utilize resources:
- BCBSM Virtual Well-Being webinars.
- https://depressioncenter.org/
- View our Wellness Works resources.
- https://nami.org/Home
- https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/index.htm
The Eisenberg Family Depression Center provides educational mental health resources, programs and events throughout the Ann Arbor area, the state of Michigan, and beyond. Click here to download the latest Depression Toolkit.