Who takes care of HR: Take aways from Pade HCM & MANI’s HR Mental Health Roundtable

In a virtual roundtable organized by Pade HCM and the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI), a distinguished panel consisting of HR professionals and psychologists came together to shed light on the current state of HR mental wellness in Nigeria.

Moderated by Ore Badmus, the panel took part in a discussion titled “Who Takes Care of HR?”, delving into important topics including emerging trends in the Nigerian HR mental health landscape, the challenges faced by HR professionals in maintaining their mental well-being, and the pivotal role of technology in addressing these challenges.

Below are 3 points the panelists thoughtfully discussed.

Does mental wellness for HR professionals exist?
Due to the fact that HR professionals are regarded as the caregivers of the organization, it is easy for many people to overlook the toll that the job takes on their mental health. Erefa Coker, founder of HREA, made this observation, pointing out that HR professionals are the wellbeing gatekeepers and nobody asks about them.

“It’s interesting because as HR people, we end up setting the focus on Mental Health month. We talk about mental health and end up setting the whole agenda for the organization.” Erefa explained. “But we never really talk about the HR department as a department. We just focus on the whole strategic goal for the organization in terms of wellness.”

An SHRM report revealed that burnout is a real problem in HR. 42% of HR teams struggle under the load of too many projects and responsibilities.

But it appears that this issue goes unnoticed by individuals outside the HR field and that is why it is important that we amplify the conversation surrounding HR mental wellness. Or, as Ene Ayegba, psychologist at MANI, put it: “Mental health wellness for HR professionals is as much a thing as we want to make it a thing.”

Role of workplace support in mental health management for HR professionals
When it comes to fostering mental wellness among HR professionals, having a healthy workplace culture is key. Remi Adegboye, Principal HR Manager at Tangerine, shared her coping mechanisms in light of her significant responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of a supportive team dynamic. Remi said:

“I think what has been helpful is that within the team, we have created a community for ourselves where we can run to each other. Based on our personal relationships and interactions with one another, we can reach out to colleagues, refresh, and then come back again.”

This type of workplace environment plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the well-being of HR professionals. As previously highlighted, there is no designated role dedicated to the welfare of HR practitioners. Consequently, organizations must intentionally create an environment that promotes empathy and understanding so HR teams can manage their responsibilities effectively.

Tech and HR wellness
According to a McKinsey study, tech tools are instrumental in tackling mental health issues in the workplace. Numerous solutions, like Pade, have been developed to facilitate wellness promotion through pulse surveys and engagement surveys.

HR professionals are expected to take advantage of these tools. But Ajibola Oyekunle, Senior Regional HR Manager at Microsoft, made it clear that the reverse is often the case with HR professionals:

“Many times, HR people do not practice what they preach.”

This roundtable is part of a month-long mental health drive that also included a Twitter Space titled “Where do we draw the line? GenZ vs Millennial work/life balance”.

Be sure to watch a recording of the roundtable to learn more about HR mental health and strategies for promoting it in the workplace.