ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT
Portable Sanitation Association International News
BIWEEKLY EDITION SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
Page 5 Continued on page 6
Fostering Mental Health in Your Company
By Jeff Wigley, PSAI Past President
On Saturday, October 10th, World Mental Health Day will be celebrated
around the globe. What is "mental health" and why does the portable
sanitation industry need to care about it?
Let's start by defining the term. The best explanation of "mental health" I
have found is from MentalHealth.gov, an agency within the US Department of
Health and Human Services. They define it this way:
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-
being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also determines how we
handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from
childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Is Employee Mental Health a Concern for Our Industry?
Yes. Period. Since March of this year, COVID-19 has
dominated and influenced our world and employees.
Companies and customers have experienced dramatic and
stressful changes in their lives.
Headspace, a company formed in 2010, has developed
programs for individuals and businesses worldwide that
emphasize meditation, mindfulness, and training to "have
happier people and a healthier business." Headspace
conducted an extensive survey of a variety of businesses
(of all kinds) concerning the mental health state and the
mental health needs of their employees. Some of the more
interesting findings include:
Stress
• 52 percent of respondents identified "money/finances" as the greatest source of stress in their lives.
• 42 percent of respondents identified "work/life balance" as their greatest source of stress.
• 51 percent of workers said that "work-related stress" has affected their personal relationships.
• 24 percent of workers lost up to an hour of work time every day because of stress.
• 68 percent of workers age 35–44 are "stressed" or "extremely stressed."
Headspace had an interesting quote about the topic of stress in that "stress doesn't end with our shift."
Company Atmosphere and Aid to Employees
• 44 percent of workers do not feel that their organization prioritizes employee mental health.
• 38 percent of workers do not believe that their company offers any mental health benefits.
• 83 percent of workers believe companies should offer mental health benefits to employees and their
dependents.
• 47 percent of workers said their organization increased access to mental health tools in response to COVID-19.
• 53 percent of workers feel mental health benefits are essential post-COVID-19.
