How to Tackle Mental Health in the Workplace

Let’s get a little personal today, shall we? Today, we’re talking all about mental health in the workplace. Mental health has really become a hot topic amongst business professionals and is something that should be discussed more so than it already is! Your mental health can change on a dime and is something that, depending on your current station in life, can fluctuate even more. It’s so powerful that it can affect all facets of your life, especially your work life.

What is Mental Health?

Before we get into the thick of it, let’s first define mental health so that we’re all on the same page. According to MentalHealth.org, it [mental health] is “our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.” Don’t think mental health is as important as everyone makes it out to be? Check out this stat from the CDC: “nearly 1 in 5 US adults aged 18 or older (18.3% or 44.7 million people) reported any mental illness in 2016. In addition, 71% of adults reported at least one symptom of stress, such as a headache or feeling overwhelmed or anxious.” Mental health is so much more than just anxiety or “feeling sad”. 44.7 million people deal with some form of a mental illness almost 4 years ago...imagine how much that number has risen in almost now as we approach 2020.

What do the Numbers Say about Mental Health in the Workplace?

Let’s talk numbers. Chances are, if you’re a business-minded individual, you’re numbers oriented and that’s just fine because we have all of the numbers for you today. Let’s start with depression, did you know that over 300 million people suffer from depression internationally, and it is the leading cause for workers to go on disability” (World Health Organization)? In fact, “only 57% of employees who report moderate depression and 40% of those who report severe depression receive treatment to control depression symptoms.” Furthermore, “depression interferes with a person’s ability to complete physical job tasks about 20% of the time and reduces cognitive performance about 35% of the time” (CDC).

Interestingly enough, mental illness affects the male population over the female. While the percentage differences are slight, they matter! Let’s look at the facts - among those in the workplace alone...not including the population as a whole, “83 percent of men and 72 percent of women report that workplace stress affects their personal lives” (ADAA). What’s important to note here is that it's not just anxiety or depression...it’s stress. That’s a key word that frequently comes into play with mental health. Your stress-level is the maker or breaker of your mental health and can drastically affect your well-being. Not only will stress affect your well-being, according to the CDC, it will also negatively affect an employee’s:

• Job performance and productivity

• Engagement with one’s work

• Communication with coworkers

• Physical capability and daily functioning

Continuing on with the conversation of stress in the workplace, numbers show that of those that have professed a claim to mental illness, 60% of those people claimed also to be too afraid to communicate the toll it’s taken on them to their bosses. The ADAA says that common reasons for fear include:

• Being laughed at

• Being labeled as weak

• Negatively impacting opportunities for a promotion

• The problem going into their file

• The problem being seen as an unwillingness to work

Let’s take another look at another list, more specifically on the topic of “what causes these in-office stressors?” Or, a better way to say this may be “what common factors contribute to the mental health problems?” The World Health Organization has an answer. They say the common contributing factors to a negative mental health at work include:

• Inflexible work schedules

• Lack of support from management

• Lack of clarity about work tasks or organizational objectives

• Poor managerial communication

• Unsafe work environments

A Healthy Office Culture is Key

Dealing with mental health head-on can be nerve-wracking for someone by themselves, not to mention having to speak about it to your boss or peers. It’s a very vulnerable moment as you share your struggles, however, it’s important that you’re as transparent and assertive with your needs as possible. Even if it feels scary, your boss and your co-workers should want to promote a healthy office environment. If you’re the boss, you should want to promote a healthy working environment and culture. If you don’t know what to do or where to start, that’s okay. The first thing to note, especially as an employer is “you CAN promote awareness about the importance of mental health and stress management” (CDC). In fact, those that did promote awareness and allowed for treatment to employees struggling with mental health found that 80% saw an increase in both productivity and workplace satisfaction (Center for Workplace Health)!

This bleeds into the topic of office culture and how important it is as an employer to promote a positive, healthy environment to limit the stresses of a working individual. Check out a quote from one of our blogs on office culture: “employees are spending more time with their co-workers than they are with their families, it makes sense to want to find an office culture that fits and feels right for them. If an employee can work in a trusting environment, they can flourish and work to the best of their ability.” Still not sure about the benefits of a healthy office culture? Here are a few reasons from the CDC on why this is so important:

• Communication structures are already in place.

• Programs and policies come from one central team.

• Social support networks are available.

• Employers can offer incentives to reinforce healthy behaviors.

• Employers can use data to track progress and measure the effects.

The Solution

Employers are not the only ones able to improve overall mental health at work. Employees are also able to do so with a few quick tips. While we know nothing can replace therapy or proper treatment, we do know of a few office tendencies that can easily assist in a boost in overall morale. The site Learn How to Become lists a few ways to improve mental health at work:

• Know the signs of a problem

• Make a to-do list

• Take frequent breaks

• Drink water

• Avoid workplace gossip

• Avoid taking on too much

• Set small, manageable goals

• Add personal items to a workspace

• Talk to human resources

• Identify triggers

• Get help

• Don’t feel ashamed

As an employer, the CDC lists the ways in which you can improve mental health in the office:

• Make mental health self-assessment tools available to all employees.

• Offer free or subsidized clinical screenings for depression from a qualified mental health professional, followed by directed feedback and clinical referral when appropriate.

• Offer health insurance with no or low out-of-pocket costs for depression medications and mental health counseling.

• Provide free or subsidized lifestyle coaching, counseling, or self-management programs.

• Distribute materials, such as brochures, fliers, and videos, to all employees about the signs and symptoms of poor mental health and opportunities for treatment.

• Host seminars or workshops that address depression and stress management techniques, like mindfulness, breathing exercises, and meditation, to help employees reduce anxiety and stress and improve focus and motivation.

• Create and maintain dedicated, quiet spaces for relaxation activities.

• Provide managers with training to help them recognize the signs and symptoms of stress and depression in team members and encourage them to seek help from qualified mental health professionals.

• Give employees opportunities to participate in decisions about issues that affect job stress.

Listen, we don’t claim to be mental health experts, but we do want to give you all the details, all the facts, and the confidence to speak up when you feel as though you need assistance. Everyone deals with their mental health differently which is why the term “mental health” is such a large umbrella term.

If you or someone else you know is struggling with a mental health disorder, SAMHSA is a great resource and contact. There, they have access to a number of hotlines and treatments and operates 24/7. Remember that the fight against mental illness is a fight you should never fight alone.