Mental health problems can affect anyone at any time. And as all over the globe countries are maintaining various levels of social distancing and lockdowns, Covid-19 is expected to affect the mental health and well-being of workers.

In fact, the World Health Organisation explored this issue on World Mental Health Day in October.

“The past months have brought many challenges: for healthcare workers, for students, for workers whose livelihoods are threatened; for the vast number of people caught in poverty or in fragile humanitarian settings and for people with mental health conditions, many experiencing even greater social isolation than before.”

People have all had to adapt. From wearing masks when they go out to spending months away from their colleagues as they work from home, many things have changed very quickly.

All anyone can do is try to keep up. However, as the coronavirus continues to affect local communities, it is also having an impact on the mental health of employees.

Here’s a look at some of the key concerns affecting workers:

1. Finances

Money worries are on the rise. In the UK, the furlough scheme was introduced in March and extended at the end of October until March next year.

But this scheme has not necessarily been the lifeline a lot of businesses needed, and there have been job losses and redundancies. The Office of National Statistics is reporting that 1.62 million people in the UK are out of work, and this number is set to rise.

These issues faced by UK workers are echoed around the world.

It is predicted that about 245 million full-time jobs could be lost around the world due to the pandemic, but this forecast changes regularly as countries go into the next wave of the virus.

All this uncertainty is sure to have an effect on the mental well-being of employees.

Workers are worried about their finances, and this has a knock-on effect on their mental health because stress and anxiety levels rise when people have money worries.

2. Health

Employees are also trying to maintain their physical health. There is the constant worry that they will contract the virus, which can add to a sense of pressure, especially for those who have a family and children to look after.

3. Family

Many workers have had to juggle home-schooling with their regular workload. There have been reports of workers being sacked for having to do this juggling, which adds to the pressure on working parents.

And workers who care for elderly parents have had to distance themselves to keep them safe.

Again, this adds to the stress and affects the mental well-being of employees trying to manage their family and work life.

What are the solutions?

Employees are facing unprecedented pressures. To help ease these pressures, employers have a duty to care for their workforce – and many organisations are getting it right.

Shortly after World Mental Health Day on Oct 8, Candice Eaton, the new global leader for diversity and inclusion at UK-based audit and tax consultancy RSM International, spoke about the significance of normalising mental health in the workplace.

“It is the responsibility of employers and employees alike to make sure we normalise mental wellness, as we do with physical wellness.”

To help improve employee well-being, employers must focus on their mental health. Now more than ever, it is time to destigmatise this area of our health and introduce policies and the tools to help workers.

Try adding regular team catch-ups over Zoom or Microsoft Teams and reviewing and updating your company’s current mental health policy.

Tackle any money worries your workers have by introducing financial well-being products, such as money management workshops.

RSM has made some changes to its approach to mental health lately. RSM UK launched the Mental Health Champions Programme, while RSM Uruguay introduced personal coaching sessions.

Small businesses are also using the tools available to help their employees.

While employees are finding things hard, managers are also experiencing difficulties.

“Dealing with issues regarding mental wellness is just as common among top management as they are in any other organisational level,” said Eaton.

“It is important to lead by example. In the current environment, business leaders need to be able to demonstrate their own healthy behaviours, and that includes sharing their challenges and how they deal or have dealt with them.”

Whether you are an employer or employee, it’s more important than ever to look after your mental well-being.

Dennis Relojo-Howell is the founder of Psychreg and host of The DRH Show. You can connect with him on Twitter @drelojo_howell