What is emotional health? An explainer for PR workplaces

Emotional health refers to the set of skills, attitudes and beliefs that govern how we think, feel and behave. Having strong emotional health helps us navigate the ups-and-downs of everyday life, while also supporting healthier relationships at home, work and in our social lives.

When it comes to the workplace, one University of Cambridge study from last year found having an emotionally healthy environment can have a positive impact on employee wellbeing, productivity, team dynamics, absenteeism, staff retention and customer service. 

The concept is gaining traction in the UK, driven in part by a 2024 report by influential thinktank Demos (Strong Foundations: Why everyone needs good emotional health – and how to achieve it). The report calls for the government to promote emotional health, arguing it could address the root causes of mental health issues and ease long-term pressures on the NHS (Demos predicts NHS England could be spending as much as £37.6bn on mental health by 2040). 

How is emotional health different from mental health?

Unlike mental health conditions such as anxiety and bipolar disorder, emotional health is universal – everybody has it, plus the ability to regulate and develop it. 

Having strong emotional health is increasingly viewed as a way to help prevent more serious mental health conditions from developing. The Demos report states that “emotional health is critical for mental health… [it can play] a crucial role in promoting the foundations of good mental health, by equipping individuals, families and communities with skills and resources to protect their mental health.”

The report cites research by the Early Intervention Foundation which found that emotional skills in childhood are linked to better mental health outcomes in childhood.

Seven ways leaders can create an emotionally healthy workplace

The Centre for Emotional Health has identified seven ‘assets’ that support emotional health. Here’s how leaders can apply them at work (information also from the University of Cambridge).

• Self-awareness. Encourage your employees to be reflective whenever you can, especially in performance reviews and development conversations.
   
• Social awareness. Most people want a compassionate workplace. Leaders can set the tone by modelling empathy and compassionate behaviour themselves.
   
• Self-beliefs. Make sure you let employees know that you value their contributions. When designing their jobs, ensure some of their workload includes ‘meaningful’ assignments and that their roles also include opportunities for learning and development.
   
• Self-agency. Give employees the space to address their feelings and opinions whenever they can. Also, involve them in decision-making where possible.
   
• Beliefs about others. Workplace bullying is bad! So do something about it.
   
• Self-regulation. Provide training that allows employees to develop their interpersonal skills.
   
• Relationship skills. Invest in building positive relationships across teams and throughout the organisation.

Emotional Health Day takes place on 24 February, organised by The Centre for Emotional Health.

Christian Koch is an award-winning journalist and editor who has written for the Sunday Times, Guardian, Evening Standard, Metro, Director, Cosmopolitan, ShortList and Stylist.

Further reading

Neurodivergence: nurturing the strengths of PR's hidden advantage

What PR leaders need to understand about rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD)

Coping with grief: four books and a podcast that may help