Why start a workplace peer support program?
In an April 2023 Mental Health Index Survey conducted by TELUS Health, it is reported that 37% (equivalent to more than one-third) of workers in Singapore are at a high mental health risk with the overall mental health falling in the strained category at a score of 61.5 out of 100. These statistics signify a growing need for increased mental health support for workers.
To tackle this issue, companies may explore the introduction of diverse workplace mental health support measures, including the establishment of a workplace peer support program.
What is a peer support program?
A peer support program is a proactive and preventive approach whereby lay persons are equipped with mental health literacy and listening skills to support their communities. It centres on the idea that individuals facing similar challenges or experiences can provide valuable support, empathy, and assistance to one another through these skills.
In the context of the workplace, a peer support program would typically involve a network or a group of employees providing support and companionship to their colleagues. This support may include aspects of well-being and mental health.
Implementing a peer support program within an organisation offers a multitude of advantages, significantly impacting both employees and businesses. These benefits can include enhancing employee well-being, productivity, and employee retention. The next few sections will discuss some key advantages of having a peer support program in the workplace, what some companies are doing and where Calm Collective comes in…
Peer support programs are a proactive and preventive way to support mental health at work
Instead of waiting for mental health issues to arise and then addressing them reactively, these programs take a proactive stance by creating a supportive environment where employees can connect, share, and receive assistance before their problems escalate. This is what the programs can help to do:
Reducing Stigma
Peer support programs can help to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues. When employees see their colleagues openly discussing and seeking help for mental health concerns, it can encourage them to do the same without fear or judgement. Thus, pushing for a more supportive and understanding workplace culture.
Increased Awareness and Education
Peer support programs would usually offer a few sessions of training to equip participants with essential skills to support their colleagues. Some of these skills could be active listening, communication skills and demeanour. Aside from training, these programs also help to increase awareness about mental health and its various aspects among the workforce.
Early Intervention
After being trained, peers would be equipped with the ability to notice any changes in a colleague's behaviour or mood when interacting.. Being able to identify early signs of distress would allow peers to intervene or offer their assistance before the situation escalates.
Peer support programs improves workplace culture
Peer support programs can also improve the existing workplace culture by turning it into a more inclusive, empathetic and supportive environment. These are some examples of improvements:
Enhanced Wellbeing
Having a support network can positively impact an individual's mental health. By having colleagues to turn to in times of need for support and encouragement, it can help to bring about feelings of comfort, assurance and reduce feelings of isolation. Thus enhancing the overall well-being of an individual.
Improved Productivity
Recent studies show that mental health is linked to work productivity. When mental health concerns are being neglected by employees, it leads to decreased well-being and lowered work efficiency (MacLennen, 2023). Addressing mental health concerns promptly through peer support programs can aid in mitigating absenteeism, presenteeism (being at work but not fully productive), and other performance-related issues.
Stronger Camaraderie
Having a peer support program can encourage employees to build a community for support and foster closer ties amongst them. This sense of collaborative and positive atmosphere allows individuals to take a step forward in helping one another.
Peer support programs are good for business
According to a study published by the World Economic Forum and Harvard School of Public Health, the economic cost related to mental health and lost productivity is expected to reach $6 trillion globally by 2030. To prevent such rising costs, businesses must start taking ownership of employees’ well-being. This is where peer support program comes in:
Resource Efficient
Peer support programs can be a cost-effective way to enhance mental health support within an organisation.Training peers to provide initial support for colleagues who may not require professional support yet can result in the reduced need for professional mental health resources. Therefore, allowing companies to save on costs and maximise available resources.
Higher Employee Engagement and Retention
When employees’ well-being are considered and supported, it translates into an increased level of engagement and commitment to the organisation. This improves retention rates and reduces turnover.
Positive Organisational Culture
A workplace that prioritises mental health and provides avenues for peer support sends a strong message about its commitment to employee wellbeing. This promotes a positive organisational culture that would help to attract top talents, beneficial for an expanding company.
Companies that have implemented peer support
Based on the few studies mentioned previously, it is increasingly apparent that mental health plays a huge role in the workplace and it’s unlikely to go away. Employers are increasingly acknowledging that a mentally healthy workforce is not only essential for employee well-being but also for business success. As a result, many organisations have been exploring a range of strategies and programs to support their employees' mental health needs.
Here are some companies that have implemented peer support to support employees’ well-being.
Google: Blue Dot
Blue Dot is a network of Googlers (Google Employees), created with the purpose of listening to people who want to talk about their mental health and destigmatise mental health conversations. It does not act as a therapy nor does it offer advice on how to fix problems. Essentially, Blue Dot offers self-guided training modules to equip its participants with effective listening skills and what to do if someone requires additional support.
Amazon: Mental Health and Well-Being (MHW) Affinity Group
Mental Health and Well-Being is Amazon’s latest Affinity Group where employees come together to create a safe community for mental health support. The group helps to connect employees with one another, find resources for employees’ mental health and host events with expert mental health professionals and speakers to reduce stigma and raise mental health awareness amongst employees.
Wipro: The Amigo Circle
The Amigo Circle was created in order to support employees in the content moderation space. The Amigo Circle adapts to the structure of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and mentoring programs to tap into the therapeutic value of informal peer groups and protect psychological well-being. It consists of self-volunteer, experienced champs who are trained by mental health professionals, to facilitate the Amigo Circle meet-ups. The champ and the participants, also known as Amigos, would meet on a fortnightly basis and discuss experiences and coping strategies.
Start your peer support program with Calm Collective
At Calm Collective, we have established our flagship peer support program called Calm Circles in 2021. Organisations may adopt Calm Circles as a means to empower their communities to support each other.
Calm Collective takes on a 2-step approach designed to support the implementation of a peer support program within the organisation.
Step 1: Starting your peer support program
To help your organisation start a peer support program, we offer peer support training programmes for facilitators and employees. These training programmes are co-developed by mental health professionals and people with lived experiences of mental health conditions. The curriculum consists of Peer Support Facilitator Certification program and Peer Support Basics for all employees. Beyond training, we can also co-create your organisation’s very own Calm Circles program by tailoring it according to your organisational needs and culture.
Step 2: Sustaining your peer support program
One main concern that comes with starting a peer support program is usually related to sustainability. Once a peer support program has been implemented, ‘how should you sustain it?’ and ‘how do you ensure facilitators’ competency?’
Calm Collective offers solutions to sustain your organisation’s program by ensuring continuous learning and development for facilitators through mentorship, supervision, and refresher training. There will also be program impact reports available, to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and implement changes for improvement.
Learn more about our Workplace solutions
Learn more about our peer support training programme for your organisation
Final Takeaway
Overall, the goal of a peer support program is to create a supportive and empathetic environment within the workplace, where employees feel comfortable discussing their concerns, seeking assistance, and building resilience.
It is a rewarding investment for organisations as it not only demonstrates a commitment to your employees' mental health but also creates a more cohesive, and productive workforce.
References:
Amazon (2023) Affinity groups [online]. Available at: https://www.aboutamazon.sg/affinity-groups
MacLennan, J. (2023) Commentary: It makes good business sense for firms to better support workers' mental health [online]. Available at: https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/commentary-it-makes-good-business-sense-firms-better-support-workers-mental-health-2213336
Mc-Hugh Johnson, M. (2020) The big story behind a little Blue Dot [online]. Available at: https://blog.google/inside-google/life-at-google/big-story-behind-little-blue-dot/
TELUS Health (2023) The Mental Health Index by TELUS Health: special report on physical health and wellbeing [online]. Available at: https://9258156.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/9258156/MHI%202023/Singapore_MHI_April_Final%20(1).pdf
Wipro (2022) The Amigo Circle [online]. Available at: https://www.wipro.com/business-process/the-amigo-circle/
World Economic Forum (2023) Mental Health [online]. Available at: https://intelligence.weforum.org/topics/a1Gb0000000pTDbEAM