The CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, suggests that managing and supporting people’s mental health at work is a critical challenge for employers.  A study by Deloitte in 2023 found that 63% of respondents experienced at least one characteristic of burnout – feelings of exhaustion, mental distance related to their job or decline in performance at work.  This was up from 51% of respondents in 2021.

Reuters estimates that poor mental health costs UK employers approximately £51billion annually; and around 50% of workers worldwide experience burnout symptoms, including exhaustion and disengagement.  So, here we explore the role and benefits of mentoring in supporting mental health.

Reducing isolation – where an individual does not have an outlet to raise and discuss their concerns, they can feel isolated, leading them to spiral with their own thoughts and preventing them from breaking through and identifying how they can resolve their concerns.  Mentoring provides a safe space for the mentee to raise the issues that are affecting them, their feelings and their concerns.  This provides the mentee with a sense of connection and a feeling that they are understood and they are not alone, ultimately reducing any feelings of isolation.

Focusing on goals – the mentor will encourage the mentee to set goals, and ensure that the mentee has a defined path to help them meet those goals which are prioritised and timetabled-in. The mentor will hold the mentee to account, encouraging them to meet their goals.  When the mentee achieves a goal, they will receive a boost of the neurotransmitter, dopamine.  Dopamine is a chemical messenger in the brain which plays a key role in the brain’s reward system.  It is often referred to as the feel-good hormone because it is released when we experience something enjoyable.  It impacts our mood, attention and emotional regulation.  This in turn motivates us to set further goals and drives us to achieve them.

Providing practical support – the mentor will provide a listening ear and offer guidance to the mentee on how to navigate challenges.  This will support the mentee in identifying healthy coping mechanisms, enabling them to stay in control and reducing any feelings of being overwhelmed.

Building resilience – resilience allows some people to be knocked down by the adversities of life and bounce back at least as strong as before. Rather than letting difficulties, traumatic events, or failure overcome them and drain their resolve, highly resilient people find a way to change course, emotionally heal, and continue moving toward their goals.  By supporting the mentee with coping strategies and encouraging the mentee to look at their own self-care, the mentor can help the mentee develop resilience.

The benefits of mentoring is not just for the mentee, but also the mentor.  Research undertaken by Pam Kennett & Dr Tim Lomas of the University of East London demonstrated that mentoring provides fulfilment for the mentor.  This fulfilment comes from having a sense of purpose, ie. supporting the mentee, and the sense of achievement from helping the mentee grow, develop and meet their goals.  This feeling of fulfilment will provide a boost of dopamine to the mentor, improving their mood, reducing any anxiety and improving the mentor’s overall mental wellbeing.