Why should you be building a mental health-friendly workplace? If you are business owner, it is the only sustainable way to grow. More and more people are taking days off due to mental illness as opposed to physical illness, according to Forbes. On the macro level, the impact of mental health on the global economy is USD 1 tn in lost productivity, with over 300 mn people suffering from depression, according to data from the World Health Organization. So if you’re looking to run a sustainable business, we suggest you pay attention to your employees’ mental health and provide them with the support and help they need.

But you don’t have to wait for the boss to take action. There are simple and effective steps that can help you remain sane in whatever highly demanding career you chose 10 years ago and now (only slightly) regret. These include:

• Do you. “Me time” is essential for your mental health (and will also ensure you don’t kill any of your colleagues). A little hint: If you never ask for vacation, you’ll never take time off. If you’re waiting on your manager to offer you time off, we suggest you stop waiting.
• Ask for help if your mental health is hampering your ability to carry on your work duties and communicate if its causes are work-related. Data has shown that 3 out of 5 employees have at some point suffered from mental health issues because of work.
• Promote mental health awareness so that your employees feel it’s a safe environment to discuss the issue and combat any remaining stigma around it.
• Don’t sit at the office all day – five minutes out in the sun can go a long way. If you have the time to browse Facebook, we’re sure you can make time to stick your head out in the sun and get some fresh air every now and then.
• Develop support mechanisms within the company or outside to help your struggling employees overcome their issues.
• Read our special Your Wealth issue on burnout.