Overview

We all play a role in making mental health and well-being part of our daily dialogue. This toolkit will help you to:


  • Learn that by building greater self-awareness you will become more mentally healthy at work and in your daily life
  • Learn about how simple diet and exercise can help boost your mental health
  • Reduce stigma about mental health and foster a safe and supportive work culture

Self-awareness is the act of understanding yourself, listening to your thoughts and emotions, and knowing how you feel and why. It is also understanding that other’s may see you differently from how you see yourself. Understanding your own feelings helps you know your own strengths and weaknesses this in turn, helps you build on your strengths and learn how to overcome challenges.


Mental health is a continuum from wellness to acute illness. Preserving a healthy balance is important to the maintenance of ongoing mental health. Awareness, understanding and knowledge of how we feel will help achieving better mental health and cultivating a better sense of emotional wellbeing.

The first step in becoming aware of your emotions is to take pause and become aware of how you feel in the moment. By practicing how to better recognize and understand your own emotions, you will find it easier to improve how you communicate. Without being connected to all of your emotions, you cannot manage stress, fully understand your own behavior, or appropriately control how you think and act.


Emotional health is the ability to cope with and manage emotions. It is also the ability to have positive relationships. High emotional intelligence can help you navigate the social complexities of the workplace, lead and motivate others, and excel in your career. Several studies have shown that emotional abilities are of particular relevance to psychological health and wellbeing.

Emotional Intelligence Is Defined By Four Attributes:

Emotional Intelligence Is Defined By Four Attributes:
01

Self-management – your ability to control impulsive feelings and behaviors, manage your emotions in healthy ways, take initiative, follow through on commitments, and adapt to changing circumstances.

02

Self-awareness – You recognize your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behavior. You know your strengths and weaknesses, and have self-confidence.

03

Social awareness – You have empathy. You can understand the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people, notice emotional cues, feel comfortable socially, and recognize the power dynamics in a group or organization.

04

Relationship management – You know how to develop and maintain good relationships, communicate clearly, inspire and influence others, work well in a team, and manage conflict.

Did You Know That Poor Mental Health And Stress Could Negatively Affect Us At Work By Affecting?

Overview

01

Job performance, safety and productivity

02

Engagement with one’s work

03

Communication with coworkers

04

Physical capability and daily functioning

Boosting Your Mental Health With Food And Exercise

For more resources on how to eat healthy visit:
The Healthy Food Palm & Healthy Food Proportions

Foods That Adversely Affect Mood:

  • Caffeine
  • Alcohol
  • Trans fats or anything with “partially hydrogenated” oil
  • Foods with high levels of chemical preservatives or hormones
  • Sugary snacks
  • Refined carbs (such as white rice or white flour)
  • Fried food

Foods That Boost Mood:

  • Fatty fish rich in Omega-3s such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, tuna
  • Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts
  • Avocados
  • Flaxseed
  • Beans
  • Leafy greens such as spinach, kale
  • Fresh fruit such as blueberries
Overview

Did You Know?

  • Walking for just 30 minutes a day can boost your mood.
  • An hour of exercise every day is recommended for good mental health
  • Staying hydrated is important for focus and emotional stability
  • Expressing gratitude can boost your feelings of well-being
  • Vitamin D from sunlight helps your body produce serotonin, which affects your moods
  • Good sleep hygiene adults should aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night

Resources

Wellness Health Screening:

The Purpose Of The Employee Health Screening Is To: 

  • Raise awareness of health indicators
  • Offer education on why you should “know your numbers”
  • Offer education on interpretation of health screening results
  • Provide information on how positive lifestyle choices can impact health
  • Provide resources available on campus and in the community to assist in making positive lifestyle changes

Find more information on your recommended health screening by age here.

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Contact Us

Have questions please email occupational.health@kaust.edu.sa