Employee on computer at work — Supporting employees with PTSD

This blog is part of the Corporate Edit - blogs designed to give quick tips and advice to guide corporations in supporting their employees in the best way for everyone. After all, any good company knows that it is built on its people.

In this blog, we are looking at how workplaces can support employees suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or, as it is more commonly known, PTSD.

PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that develops after a person experiences or witnesses something traumatic, for instance injury or mental distress. It can manifest itself in many ways; commonly anxious feelings, difficulty sleeping and flashbacks.

Around 8% of us will experience prolonged PTSD in our lifetimes, so having a defined, robust plan in place for how to support sufferers in your workplace is extremely beneficial. Certain jobs put employees at higher risk of workplace trauma and potential PTSD – the emergency services for instance – but even in other workplaces, this significant percentage of employees will at some point be sufferers and will need to be supported accordingly.

When someone is affected by PTSD, it’s only natural its effects will spill over into the workspace, and they can be extremely debilitating. These effects can vary hugely and can include any of the following:

- Anxiety and/or depression

- Distraction from everyday tasks

- Exhaustion

- Difficulty maintaining an everyday routine

- Lack of confidence in their work

- Difficulties communicating with colleagues, which can lead to tension

- Feelings of isolation

- Susceptibility to physical illness

When supporting an employee through PTSD, the number one thing to be remembered is that everything must be handled with sensitivity. Each individual is different, as is each situation. The role of a supportive employer is to be empathic and take their lead from the employee as to how best they like to be supported. Some may wish to keep things private, sharing details of their trauma only with one person at work. Others find sharing their experience to be helpful and may seek your support in going about this. Regardless, this is the choice of the employee, and you must take your cue from them.

Quote saying people start to heal the moment they feel heard from Cheryl Richardson — The power of listening

In instances where a larger group within a workplace is affected, such as if a colleague passes away, or a traumatic incident such as a terrorist attack occurs, it is still important to remember that each person will be affected differently, and each will respond to different methods of support. Whilst some seek solace in others, many others prefer to keep their feelings more private. Whatever their choice, this must be respected.

How employers can help

Fortunately, there are numerous ways in which an employer can support their employees suffering from PTSD and the effects of trauma.

- Listen to the employee – assure them everything will be dealt with confidentially

- Take cues from them as to how best they would like to be supported – for instance, how much would they like to be shared with the wider team?

- Keep the lines of communication open – let them know you are there to listen to them if and when they need you to

- Offer them flexibility in their working hours if this will help them – e.g. later start times to allow them to recover from poor sleeping at night

- Reassure them that you still value them as an employee and the current situation does not affect their ability to fulfil their role

- Encourage access to any existing workplace mental health support, such as free or subsidised therapy sessions etc

- Check in with them regularly – make it clear that their wellbeing is a priority for you, and you will do all you can to get them back to full health. Sometimes just knowing they have your support can take a lot of the anxiety away from them and allow work to be a place of positive distraction; something in which to lose themselves. This can be a key aid to recovery too

The above steps can form a critical part of your employee’s recovery. Having a plan in place for responding to unexpected traumatic events that could affect your team members is an essential for any good workplace and should form an intrinsic part of the overall wellbeing plan for your company.

Suggested Task

Proven to help with mental health, why not introduce the benefits of meditation to your team by using 30 minutes in a team meeting to practice this form of relaxation? A great place to start is
Metta Loving Kindness Meditation.

This meditation is a wonderful way to practice self-love and self-kindness. It might feel a little ‘woo woo’ but stay with me here! Practicing self-love means that you take kindness on yourself and recognise that it is human to feel that love within.

How does it work?

What I wish for the team I also want for me

Put your hands on your heart and repeat 3 times:

May I be happy
May I be safe
May I be well
May I be at peace

Then, think specifically of someone in your team and do the same for them

Repeat the above mantra again for yourself

I hope this article has been of some help to you and your team. Did you know that Otentikcare promotes holistic wellness in the workplace? You can work with Patience to develop a bespoke wellness programs plan for your company. If you want to support your employees’ wellness, email lateam@otentikcare.co.uk to start the conversation..

Wellness At Work Segment: Reduce PTSD