As a manager, you play a big role in shaping the wellbeing of your team. The pressures of modern working life can take their toll on anyone, and with mental health concerns rising across all age groups, it’s more important than ever to create a workplace where people feel supported, safe, and valued.
At PMAC, we work closely with businesses across the UK to offer practical, psychologically informed mental health training. We understand the real-world challenges you face—from tight deadlines to team tensions—and we’re here to help you build a culture where your staff can truly thrive.
In this guide, you’ll find straightforward, effective workplace mental health tips to promote wellbeing in your teams. These are steps you can take today to make a lasting difference.
Understanding the Real Cost of Poor Mental Health at Work
It’s easy to dismiss low moods or stress as just part of the job—but over time, unspoken struggles can quietly erode a team’s energy, focus, and cohesion. You might notice more sick days, missed deadlines, or a drop in morale, but not always know why. Poor mental health doesn’t always manifest dramatically; often, it’s a slow fade. And in that silence, good people can start to burn out or drift away.
The impact isn’t just personal; it’s economic. A study by AXA UK found that poor mind health in the workplace cost the UK economy £102 billion in 2023, with £26 billion lost due to sick days and £57.4 billion from reduced productivity.
As we can see, supporting mental wellbeing isn’t just about ticking a box, it’s about protecting the heart of your workplace. When your team feels safe, supported, and heard, they can bring their best selves to work. That’s when real progress starts to happen.
How Managers Can Create a Mentally Healthy Work Culture
One of the most effective workplace mental health tips is to build a culture where mental wellbeing is prioritised as part of daily working life. Managers play a key role in shaping the tone of the workplace, and your actions can directly influence how supported staff feel.
1. Start with Safe & Supportive Conversations
Many people won’t speak up about how they’re feeling unless they’re given a quiet nudge, and a safe space to be honest. As a manager, you don’t need to have all the answers but simply showing that you care can go a long way.
Here’s how you can start opening up those vital conversations:
- Make check-ins routine. Ask how someone is doing beyond their to-do list. This helps people speak freely about any challenges before they escalate.
- Use open, gentle questions. Try “How are things going for you lately?” or “Is anything making work feel harder right now?”
- Avoid quick fixes. Sometimes, the most helpful thing is just actively listening without rushing to solve.
By normalising these chats, you help reduce mental health stigma and show that wellbeing is part of everyday work, not a taboo topic saved for crisis moments.
2. Make Mental Wellbeing a Visible Priority
You can’t always see when someone is struggling—but your actions as a leader can help your team feel more supported, no matter what they’re facing. Taking clear, practical steps signals that mental health matters here.
Here are some simple but powerful ways to show this:
- Encourage regular breaks and reasonable hours.
- Signpost support options clearly. Share access to helplines, HR contacts, or mental health champions.
- Offer flexibility where possible. Let people know it’s okay to adjust when they’re having a hard day.
- Organise awareness sessions or training. This can help everyone feel more confident talking about mental health.
The best part is that these workplace mental health tips don’t require a big budget. They just need intention. When wellbeing is built into how you work, not just what you say, people notice. And more importantly, they feel it.
3. Lead by Example
The way you handle stress, talk about mental health, and set boundaries sends a message, whether you mean to or not. Your team is likely to take their cues from you, so when you show that it’s okay to prioritise wellbeing, you give others permission to do the same.
Try leading with these behaviours:
- Take your own breaks and encourage others to do the same.
- Be open about challenges when appropriate, to show that struggling isn’t a weakness.
- Respect work-life boundaries. Send emails during working hours and encourage switching off.
- Model asking for help when you need it.
These habits might seem small, but over time they help shape a healthier, more honest culture. And one of the most effective workplace mental health tips is simply this: show your team what care looks like in action.
Training in mental health awareness can also give managers the confidence to recognise early signs of stress and provide appropriate support. By being approachable and empathetic, you can build trust within your teams and contribute to a more mentally healthy work environment.
4. Create Space for Ongoing Feedback and Change
Mental health support isn’t something you set and forget. Your team’s needs can shift over time, and the best way to keep up is to ask. When people feel heard, they’re more likely to stay engaged and trust that their wellbeing matters. It’s important that your team knows where to turn when they need support.
Here are a few ways to build that foundation:
- Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) offer 24/7 access to confidential counselling, legal advice, and wellbeing tools.
- Wellbeing programmes, like resilience workshops, mindfulness sessions, or wellbeing apps, help support mental health proactively.
- Mental health champions within your team can provide a listening ear, raise awareness, and signpost colleagues to help.
- Use anonymous surveys or suggestion boxes to gather honest insights
- Hold regular team reviews that include a wellbeing check-in
- Act on feedback, because even small changes show you’re listening
This is one of the most overlooked workplace mental health tips, but it’s crucial. When people feel like their voice counts, they’re more likely to speak up, before small struggles become bigger issues.
Daily Habits That Gently Support Mental Wellbeing at Work
It’s often the smallest habits that make the biggest difference. A few quiet minutes in the morning to plan the day ahead can ease that feeling of being pulled in every direction. Regular breaks, especially outdoors or away from screens, give your mind space to breathe.
Encourage your team to move gently, eat well, and drink water throughout the day. These simple things often slip first when stress creeps in, yet they’re the foundations of focus and steadiness.
Even a short moment of mindfulness, a deep breath, a calming app, a quiet pause, can shift the tone of a day. Endings matter too: wrapping up with a short reflection or tomorrow’s to-do list helps people leave work behind, just a little lighter.
Conclusion: Small Steps, Big Impact
You don’t need to be a mental health expert to make a real difference. Just by showing up, listening, and creating space for honest conversations, you’re already helping to build a workplace where people feel valued and supported. These workplace mental health tips may seem simple, but when done consistently, they can transform how your team feels and functions.
If you’re ready to take things further, our Bespoke Mental Health Training can give you and your team the confidence, tools, and language to support one another more effectively. Our sessions are designed with busy workplaces in mind—practical, engaging, and rooted in real-life situations.
Let’s create a safer workplace together.