Learn About Emotional Well-being
Learn About Emotional Well-being
How this toolkit can help YOU and YOUR team
Talking about emotional health isn’t always easy, but it influences how we think, feel, and behave at work and at home. Yet, those who need help may hesitate to seek it due to the stigma around mental health and fear of repercussions at work.
As a manager, you’re on the front line. As you’re often the first to notice changes in someone on your team’s behavior, we want to ensure you feel confident and prepared to offer support when it’s needed. That’s why we’re providing resources and tools to help you maintain your own emotional balance and foster a culture of well-being for your team.
This toolkit will teach you about the diverse types of well-being needs, highlight warning signs that indicate an employee may be struggling, provide pointers on how to start a conversation, and showcase care resources to share with your team.
Know that this is a solution for you too. It’s hard to support others if you’re running on empty, so we’ve included tips for you to start with caring for yourself. By prioritizing your own well-being, you’ll be ready to support your team in the moments that matter.
The safety and well-being of you and your team are always our top priority. If you suspect the situation is urgent, please call 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline.
Educate yourself on diverse emotional well-being needs
Everyone experiences thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and we’re all learning how to manage them. No matter where you are in your well-being journey, you may benefit from seeking resources to help with balance.
Employees may be in any of the following emotional states. While it’s not your role to diagnose employees, you may find it helpful to identify where they are, so you can refer them to specific resources.
Emotional Well-being States
THRIVING Resilient; positive; energized; healthy
BEING WELL Periodic stress; occasional sleep disruption; general work/life balance
MANAGING Anxiety; depression; high levels of stress/burnout; family or relationship issues
NEEDING COMPLEX SUPPORT Substance use; eating disorders; developmental disorders
REQUIRING ACUTE HELP Suicidal thoughts; severe mental illness; violence or anger
Educate yourself on diverse emotional well-being needs
Everyone experiences thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and we’re all learning how to manage them. No matter where you are in your well-being journey, you may benefit from seeking resources to help with balance.
Employees may be in any of the following emotional states. While it’s not your role to diagnose employees, you may find it helpful to identify where they are, so you can refer them to specific resources.
Emotional Well-being States
THRIVING
Resilient; positive; energized; healthy
BEING WELL
Periodic stress; occasional sleep disruption; general work/life balance
MANAGING
Anxiety; depression; high levels of stress/burnout; family or relationship issues
NEEDING COMPLEX SUPPORT
Substance use; eating disorders; developmental disorders
REQUIRING ACUTE HELP
Suicidal thoughts; severe mental illness; violence or anger
Assess your stress and encourage your team to do the same
The first step is understanding how well YOU are feeling. To get started, register online with ComPsych and use Web ID 1251.
Once registered, you can use these tools to assess your levels of stress and work-life balance.
Tip! At your next team meeting or in your next one-on-one, share these tools with your employees as well.
Take notice of changes in appearance, mood, or behaviors
Everyone experiences and exhibits stress a bit differently, but it’s helpful to know what to look out for in the chance a colleague is struggling. You may notice someone is extra sleepy in meetings, or is missing deadlines. It’s important to know what to look out for so that you can offer support.
Check out mental health scenarios
Reflect on how signs may differ by an employee’s personal situation.
Personal Challenge
Signs to recognize
Resources to share
Meet Diego
Diego is having trouble balancing work and life duties
- Has been more anxious
- Acts with a sense of urgency
- Frequently overwhelmed
Meet Jamie
Jamie hasn’t been able to exercise regularly
- Decreased energy levels
- Increased mood changes and irritability
- Less collaborative on projects
Meet Josie
Josie is under extreme work pressure
- Reduced ability to concentrate
- Elevated stress levels
- Headaches and anxiety
Meet Mei
Mei takes care of her aging father
- Anxiousness
- Frequently overwhelmed
- Experiencing burnout
Meet Sam
Sam has been feeling drained at work
- Mild fatigue
- Mood swings
- Headaches
Meet Cole
Cole is experiencing suicidal thoughts
- Hopelessness
- Lack of motivation
- Extreme mood swings
- Reckless behavior
- Talks about feeling like a burden
Suicide Hotline; call 988
Meet Diego
Personal challenge
Diego is having trouble balancing work and life duties
Signs to recognize
- Has been more anxious
- Acts with a sense of urgency
- Frequently overwhelmed
Resources to share
Meet Jamie
Personal challenge
Jamie hasn’t been able to exercise regularly
Signs to recognize
- Decreased energy levels
- Increased mood changes and irritability
- Less collaborative on projects
Resources to share
Meet Josie
Personal challenge
Josie is under extreme work pressure
Signs to recognize
- Reduced ability to concentrate
- Elevated stress levels
- Headaches and anxiety
Resources to share
Meet Mei
Personal challenge
Mei takes care of her aging father
Signs to recognize
- Anxiousness
- Frequently overwhelmed
- Experiencing burnout
Resources to share
Meet Sam
Personal challenge
Sam has been feeling drained at work
Signs to recognize
- Mild fatigue
- Mood swings
- Headaches
Resources to share
Meet Cole
Personal challenge
Cole is experiencing suicidal thoughts
Signs to recognize
- Hopelessness
- Lack of motivation
- Extreme mood swings
- Reckless behavior
- Talks about feeling like a burden
Resources to share
Suicide Hotline; call 988
Understand stress versus burnout
As a manager, you may respond differently to your employees depending on whether they are stressed or burned out. A stressed employee might need encouragement and support, while a burned-out employee may require more immediate help and tailored resources.
Take a look at some key differences.
STRESS: Exists when employees feel overwhelmed with their usual workload.
- Is overly anxious, hyperactive, and overengaged
- Overreacts to situations
- Acts with a sense of urgency
- Has extremely high/low energy
- Exhibits physical symptoms, such as chest pain, muscle tension, stomach aches, or dizziness
- Seems overly tired
BURNOUT: Exists when demands exceed the resources available to support employees.
- Seems emotionally distant and disengaged
- Acts with a sense of helplessness
- Motivation seems to be diminishing
- Has feelings of depression
- Appears detached or is frequently late
- Seeks isolation
- Exhibits blunted emotions
If you need help determining how to best support your employees, call ComPsych, our EAP, for advice at 877-595-5280.