Young woman sitting on chair with hands behind head and taking break during work from home

Three Tips to Help SMBs Visualize Workplace Mental Health Year‑Round

Table of contents

iStock has released new research showing that 68% of people globally believe that companies have an obligation to implement policies and provide employees with mental health support at work. This is an important factor for businesses to consider when choosing visuals that promote positive well‑being practices beyond Mental Health Awareness Month.

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, research from VisualGPS shows that more people now believe that focusing on their mental health (45%) is of greater importance than their physical health (43%). For businesses wanting to foster a supportive work environment, using the right images, videos and illustrations can help de‑stigmatize mental health issues, reshape our understanding of how and when to seek help, and communicate new policies to employees.

Workers are looking for ways to make their jobs better suit them and their lifestyles, as three‑quarters of employees feel that achieving a good work‑life balance is more of a priority now than it was pre‑pandemic. In terms of future work arrangements, 84% agree that companies should allow people to continue working remotely after the pandemic is over, and 46% would like to see employers put their attention toward policies that allow flexible working arrangements.

iStock’s visual experts have provided some tips for small and medium‑sized business owners to keep in mind when communicating to employees about mental health:

Encourage healthy practices

Promote positive mental health practices in visual storytelling by depicting people taking breaks from digital devices, decompressing by spending time outdoors, doing something manual or tending to caretaking duties at home. These visuals should help businesses show their commitment to staff wellbeing.

Foster connectivity among employees

According to VisualGPS, 66% of employees miss the social interactions of an office, while 61% are eager to resume in‑person interactions with colleagues immediately. Employers should consider using images, videos and illustrations that show workers connecting with colleagues, socializing in a physical workspace or catching up outside a traditional work setting.

Promote an inclusive workplace

VisualGPS research shows that 56% feel that their employer is doing everything they can to be more diverse and inclusive in hiring new staff and promotions across the business, indicating that more can be done on these efforts. Think about including people from a wide range of ages, body types, ethnicity, genders, or any combination of these in your images, videos and illustrations.

To explore visuals related to workplace mental health, browse our curation. For additional guidance on how to more accurately visualize mental health in the workplace, check out our Guidelines for Visualizing Workplace Mental Health, created in collaboration with Mind Share Partners.

Recommended for you

Eyes like a shutter, mind like a lens From Our Experts Learn with iStock: All you need to know about stock footage, image licensing, and file formats What is a royalty-free image? How do you open an EPS file? How can I use stock footage? Let iStock guide you through these questions & more with our comprehensive guide.
We're answering to natures call today Tools & Workflows 3 Simple Steps to Using iStock Assets Learn about iStock credit packs, then stock up and use them whenever you need high quality images, illustrations, or videos for your next project!
Woman framing with her hands the amazing sunrise scenery Tools & Workflows Tools & Workflows How to Edit Photos: 9 Important Skills for Editing Images Learn the most important skills for editing and creating images. Examples of adjusting white balance, colors, exposure, adding text overlays, and blemish removal.
Social media concept Tools & Workflows The Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Images for the Web When your images are the right size, your site runs faster and looks better. Learn how to optimize your images for the web to ensure your site looks and performs its best.
iStock Staff