Mental Health Issues in the Workplace
Your physical as well as mental health is greatly affected by work. Job can add structure, meaning, purpose as well as financial benefits to your life.
However, an unfavorable environment in the workplace may have a negative effect on your work and have a bad impact on your emotional health.
Long hours duty, lack of support, lack of staff members, and pressurization in the workplace can increase your stress levels and lead to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
As your work or job can affect your mental health, in the same way your mental health can impact your job creativity and performance.
In this article, we will discuss the importance, causes and symptoms of mental health issues in the workplace, how these issues affect jobs, and how to take care of psychological health at work.
Statistics of mental health issues in workplace
Research shows that 1 in 6.8 people in the workplace experience mental health issues.
Another study says that 15% of adults who are working face mental health issues in 2019.
Importance of mental health in workplace
In a positive workplace, there is a process of continuous improvement and evaluation, and workers feel engaged and valued. Workplace, which is mentally healthy benefits every business and employee regardless of size of business or industry.
While a poor workplace mental health can affect the bottom line of a business through increased staff turnover, staff leave and reduced productivity. That’s why positive mental health in the workplace is very important.
Causes of mental health issues in workplace
Problems related to work that may have negative impact on your mental health are following:
- Long hour duty, due to losses and unfilled vacancies, shortnessin staff, or an increase in workload.
- Working day and night for work only and havingno spare time for personal life.
- A toxic workplace that supportsbullying, abuse, and harassment.
- Lack of guidance and training for duty you are assumed to fulfill.
- Limited or confused communication from administration about goals, tasks or decision-making.
Deficiency of equipment, lack of support, unsafe practices of work and other job resources.
Symptoms of mental health issues at workplace
Lessen your performance at work
You work hard to carry your daily routine duties at work, home and in social life. This causes a burden which affects your performance at work.
Trouble in concentration and thinking
You may feel difficulty in focusing tasks or experience problems with thinking, memory and this leads to change in your speech pattern.
Changes in your sleeping patterns and appetite
Struggling with sudden changes in the quantity of food you eat, sleeping too much, insomnia, depends more on alcohol and drugs.
Mood Swings
You feel helpless or hopeless and experience suicidal thoughts uncommon mood swings.
Lack of interest in activities
You lose passion in activities which you previously enjoyed, leave hobbies you used to like, or withdraw from social activities or friendships. These are the symptoms of mental health issues in the workplace.
Anxiety or nervousness
You feel doubtful of others at work or suddenly feel nervous and scared in some situations.
Increased sensitivity
Sensitivity to light and sound is a symptom of mental health issues. Such a person tries to avoid these situations.
Unusual behavior
You may feel out of control or unusual behavior such as hearing or seeing things that do not exist in reality.
Unexplained pains and aches
Such as an upset stomach, headaches, or pain in the body or muscles
How can mental health issues affect a job?
Consider the link between your own performance and mental health.
If you feel well physically, mentally or emotionally, then you go to your job with a fresh and healthy mind. You are flexible, adaptable, and strong. You are capable of handling challenges. Your work is beneficial for your team.
But if you have problems with poor mental health at the workplace, even if it is a minor issue, it leaves a negative impact on your job.
Poor mental health in workplace have following negative effects:
Lack of focus in work
If we have poor mental health, it leads to lack of focus and de-motivation.
Productivity and job performance suffers
Mental health issues and other mental health disorders can affect the identity and confidence of a person at work. It can also decrease productivity of work. It also undermines attendance of a person at work thus stopping people from getting a job in the first place.
Reduced daily functioning and physical capability
Mental health problems can cause sleeping problems, low levels of energy, tiredness, and detachment from reality. This affects a person’s ability to cope with stress and daily life problems.
Poor communication
When a person is not emotionally well, it is difficult for him to communicate well. If you have poor mental health, you may overreact with your colleagues. It causes you to speak with an aggressive tone, have an adverse attitude and be a bad listener.
Poor decision-making
Mental health issues can cause lack of healthy thoughts and impulse control, this leads to poor decision-making. Poor decision-making results in missed meetings, dropping commitments, showing up late,and not following company policies.
How to talk about mental health at the workplace?
Following steps should be followed while talking about mental health at workplace:
Feel comfortable
Speaking about your mental health at the workplace is a necessary step, and approaching it can be difficult. It takes bravery to talk and discuss personal issues like that. Take time and select a moment to discuss mental issues when you feel ready, not when you feel pressured and rushed.
Let others take the lead
If someone opens up a conversation about mental health issues at work, you should always ask them questions in order to feel comfortable around the topic. If they feel comfortable to share their experience, this may help you better understand their situation.
Ask questions
Asking questions about someone’s mental health can give you more information about their mental health experiences.
Keep it casual
You should not talk about mental health in a clinical way. Try to Keep things informal, this may help others feel comfortable and relax while discussing mental health. You should use relatable examples.
Respect privacy of others
You should remember that experiences of mental illness are very personal and should be kept private. Never share someone’s mental health information without their permission.
How to take care of your mental health at work?
Switch off
When you are working very hard, day and night it is important for you to have a healthy work-life balance. This means switching off your screen when you are done with work and taking regular breaks during work. You should not be available 24/7 to reply to emails, work calls, and other messages. You should also focus on your family and friends and take time to recharge, relax and enjoy yourself.
Practice relaxation techniques
To protect mental health and to reduce the effects of stress, you should practice relaxing techniques. This includes meditation, massage, tai chi, music and art therapy, yoga, aromatherapy. It helps to have a calm and clear mind which leads to concentration, positive thinking, and good decision making.
Take care of yourself
By eating a healthy and nutritious diet and getting quality sleep, you can clearly see a positive result in your mental health at work and in daily life problems. You can control these aspects of life rather than many situations in your work or workplace. When you put struggles in self-care then you will feel better.
Find purpose and meaning in your work
Even if a person does not like his job, he can still find a way to find purpose and meaning in work they do. Try to concentrate on that in how many ways your work helps others, such as, providing a useful service or product, or the bonding you enjoy with your colleagues. You should look for opportunities to get job-related classes and training to find purpose in your work.
Try to collaborate
We are human-being, so we need to connect with others. Collaborating as team, enjoying together, and developing beloved relationships with our colleagues can help to reduce stress and maintain your mood during work. If you do not have good relationships with your colleagues, you should make an effort to work together, and behave well with them during work break and outside the workplace.
Build Flexibility
The more flexible you are, the more you’re able to tolerate stress, and the feelings of anxiety, depression and hopelessness which can be created by problems at the workplace. Building resilience can also help you from setbacks in your career or personal life and help you maintain a positive outlook.
Summary
Awareness of mental health issues experienced by employees is the first step to support good mental health at the workplace. All employees get benefits when companies promote and support mental health for employees who are Just thriving and those who have mental health issues and need support.
Companies can get a leading position by removing shame for mental health as an issue and also taking a broader view of the company’s role. We can redefine mental health by focusing on solutions that help employees flourish personally and professionally, in addition to providing support and access for clinical care for those most in need.
With creativity, understanding, and support, companies can give the best mental health programs for their workers.