IMPROVING EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.

 

Introduction

Employee stress, burnout, and high stress have become a major challenge for organizations today. Due to the increasing workload, difficulty in time management, and competitive work environment, employees are facing severe mental problems. In such a situation, the Human Resource Management department plays an important role by implementing Wellness and Mental Health programs for employee well-being (Armstrong & Taylor, 2014).

Managing Employee Stress and Burnout.

Stress is the daily response to high pressure situations that occur during work. Burnout is a mental and physical weakness caused by long-term stress. Due to the occurrence of such conditions, the productivity and reliability of employees decrease (Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2023).

For this reason, many organizations provide employees with an opportunity to control their stress by implementing Wellness Programs. Examples of this are giving new interest to employees through mental development workshops, relaxation sessions, and work-life balance programs.

 


Role of HR

Mindfulness Sessions – The HR department conducts mindfulness programs to increase employees’ attention, emotional control, and mental composure. This helps employees to settle into the present moment without being stressed about the past or the future. 

Counselling Services – The HR department provides trusted counseling services to resolve personal and professional issues. This allows employees to openly discuss their problems and take breaks.

Physical Fitness Programs – A healthy body is also important for mental health. Therefore, activities such as yoga, walking programs, and health challenges are planned for employees by the HR department.


Examples from Sri Lanka

Several companies in Sri Lanka are currently successfully implementing such programs. For example, MAS Holdings, Dialog Axiata, and Commercial Bank have allocated special funds for employee welfare programs and conducted mindfulness and fitness programs (Daily FT, 2024). Several government agencies have also introduced programs such as “Workplace Well-being Week” for employee mental health.


Conclusion

Employee well-being and mental health are essential components of an organization’s continued existence. HR departments can reduce employee stress and burnout through mindfulness, counseling, and physical fitness programs, and build a healthy culture that is nurtured by the programs. A healthy employee is a valuable asset for a productive organization



References:

Daily FT (2024). Employee Well-being Initiatives in Sri Lankan Companies. Colombo: Wijeya Newspapers.

Armstrong, M. & Taylor, S. (2014). Human Resource Management: Practice and Principles. Kogan Page Publishers.

Central Bank of Sri Lanka (2023). Workplace Mental Health and Productivity Report.

Comments

  1. NISHADI MAHAKUMBURA5 November 2025 at 10:18

    "This is a very insightful post. Promoting mental health in the workplace is truly important, and your points really bring to light how supportive programs allow for such a positive and productive environment. Well done-really enjoyed reading this!"

    ReplyDelete

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