The role of Mentoring in supporting Mental Health
The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, which is run by the Mental Health Foundation, is taking action to support good mental health. Mental Health Awareness Week, which has been running for 25 years, highlights the importance of good mental health, challenges stigma and promotes practical actions people can take to support their own wellbeing.
Can mentoring help with improving mental health?
According to research carried out in one police force in the UK, the answer is yes.
The research shows mentees in high-stress environments benefit through both career-related and psychosocial support systems.
Reduced Stress: Mentoring lowers the levels of stress and strain experienced by mentees.
Wellbeing and coping: The relationship prepares mentees to face anxiety-provoking situations and improves their overall affective well-being.
A unique support context: Mentoring provides dedicated time to talk and a context for being listened to.
Normalising concerns: By discussing professional anxieties with a mentor who “gets it”, mentees can normalise their concerns, reducing the stigma often associated with mental health in demanding roles.
The study also highlights the mental health benefits of mentoring for mentors. These are:
Lowered anxiety levels: The research suggests that mentors may experience marginally lower levels of anxiety when participating in a mentoring programme compared to those who do not.
Increased meaning in work: Mentors found their jobs significantly more meaningful as a result of mentoring others. This intrinsic reward helps make their daily work feel more valuable and satisfying.
A unique support context: Mentoring provides dedicated time to talk and a context for being listened to.
Normalising concerns: By discussing professional anxieties with a mentor who “gets it”, mentees can normalise their concerns, reducing the stigma often associated with mental health in demanding roles.
Reflective problem solving: Engaging in reflective discussions with mentees can help mentors solve their own professional problems by gaining different ways of doing things from junior colleagues.
How does mentoring affect employee mental health in your organisation?
Read the research – Mentoring for mental health: A mixed-method study of the benefits of formal mentoring programmes in the English police force