Mental health in the corporate environment and how it affects employee productivity

Mental health in the corporate environment plays a crucial role in the modern organizational landscape, serving as a fundamental basis for building a healthy, productive, and humane work environment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental disorders are among the leading causes of work absences worldwide.

Talking about mental health in the corporate environment is essential, as work has one of the most profound impacts on people's well-being. The WHO itself highlights that 13% of the world's population lives with some form of mental disorder. Some companies, mistakenly, view stress, extreme fatigue, discouragement, memory lapses, among others, as occasional tiredness that can be resolved with vacation planning or a few days of rest.

Various aspects can compromise employees' mental well-being, such as excessive working hours and unrealistic goals; lack of recognition for work and achievements; a negative organizational climate, with conflicts, gossip, and lack of communication; professional stagnation, and abusive behavior. Mentally healthy teams become more motivated, willing, happy, and, consequently, more productive.

Investing in measures that promote mental well-being is essential for implementing a positive organizational culture, such as offering wellness programs, promoting work-life balance, and fostering open and transparent communication. By prioritizing mental health, companies also reap benefits such as:

• Reduction of absenteeism and turnover: Healthier employees are absent less often and stay longer with the company;
• Improvement in work quality: Higher productivity, creativity, and engagement lead to superior results;
• Attraction and retention of talent: Professionals seek companies that care about their well-being;
• Improvement of the company's image: Strengthening the brand as a responsible and humane employer.

Investing in mental health in the corporate environment is an investment in the company's future, in employees' quality of life, and in building a more just work environment. After all, mental health is a basic necessity for both individual and collective success.