Guide Employees through Mental Health Challenges

Imagine it is a typical day, with meetings and a never-ending to-do list. Suddenly, one of your employees, named Janet, visibly upset, comes into your office asking if you have a moment to talk. You let them know that you have a few minutes. Janet begins to cry and explains the recent passing of her brother. Janet and her brother were very close, and death was unexpected. She explains how her grief comes in waves, and how the patient she was caring for earlier reminded her of her brother.

Would you know how to support your team member in this situation?

When an employee comes to you during a crisis situation, it can sometimes be difficult to know the right words to say. Below are some steps to take and example responses to help your employee feel supported. Be sure to use a calm tone and make space for silence, too.

1. Acknowledge the employee's experience so they know that you are listening and hears what they have expressed to you. Focus your full attention on listening without interruption and without judgement, and without planning your response.

2. Show empathy by letting your employee know that you understand how they are feeling through words and body language.

3. Access safety by identifying whether or not your employee feels that they are not in danger, not a danger to themselves or a danger to others.

4. Direct your employee to the resources available at Northside that can help them manage their situation.

5. If possible, determine if their workload needs adjustments while they recover from this incident, and if you and your team are able to support those needs.

6. Follow up with your employee at a later time to ensure they are using the appropriate resources and are recovering from the incident.

When people share their experiences and feelings with someone, it can be an important part of the healing process. If guiding an employee through a crisis causes you distress, please reach out to a trusted peer or utilize the well-being resources listed in the above links for additional support.

Thank you for doing all that you can to support our employees.