Mental Illness in the Workplace

Did you know that there’s something more terrifying than the pandemic affecting the world’s economy? It’s a lot closer to home, too. It’s mental illness.

That’s right. Mental illness is making the global economy suffer. Depression and anxiety, the top two culprits, are costing an estimated $1 trillion per year in lost productivity, predicted to be much higher by the time we reach the 2030s. 

In the US alone, one in five adults suffer from mental illness in any given year. These are working adults who can be productive. Yet, they are struggling with their mental health.

You may have heard these numbers before. Mental illness has become a threat to companies. Many of them are facing demands to treat mental illness seriously. Ignoring the problem can be costlier for them.

Find out what the picture is like for mental illness in the workplace. Also, discover how you can manage this problem at work.

Causes of Mental Illness in the Workplace

You can blame excessive stress as the number one cause of mental illness at work. Consider the stress triggers:

• Unrealistic deadlines
• Long working hours
• Heavy workloads
• Poor working conditions
• Job insecurity
• Lack of control
• Poor balance between work and life
• (Socially) toxic working environment

The list goes on. Added to these problems is the lack of support from the management (i.e., your supervisor, team leader, company heads—everyone at the top), which creates a further negative impact.

Meanwhile, during the pandemic, working styles have changed. Workers grappled with isolation and blurred boundary lines when working from home was the norm. Zoom fatigue was a complaint among many employees.

Things are returning to normal now, but the effects of those days in quarantine can still be felt.

With companies now using a hybrid system, workers’ problems don’t automatically disappear.

If companies are still giving their employees unreasonable demands and no guarantees over their job security, mental illness will remain. It’s time for companies and employers to realize how important it is to create a healthier working environment for their workers.

How It Affects Employees

Mental health concerns, including illness, affect employees in different ways. But there’s more to it than just reduced productivity.

Lowered concentration

Many employees struggling with mental health are often overwhelmed. Their loss of focus usually results in poor work results. If their quality of work suffers, their career might be stunted. And then this will cause them even more stress.

Emotional instability

Mental health disorders often cause mood swings and irritability. A change in their attitude will affect relationships with clients and colleagues alike. It will lead to tension and awkward situations. And their job performance as a whole is put to the test.

Physical illness

Let’s not forget the aches and general tiredness that follow employees’ mental struggles. Their poor feelings may manifest physically, resulting in increased sick leaves. If unchecked, this can potentially lead to absenteeism, another challenge in productivity.

Managing Mental Health Challenges at Work

Efforts to manage different mental health conditions at work are still ongoing. Some companies have started to address the problem, but we still have far to go. Companies can do much more to lift the burden, like reviewing mental health policies and increasing awareness.

While it may take further effort to improve the situation for all involved, as an employee, here’s what you can do:

1. Start talking and lose the stigma. Talking about mental health problems openly will help eliminate the stigma. Employees of all levels (including the upper management) should be open to this discussion. If no one assigns blame for poor performance but instead talks about it to find out if the employee is struggling mentally, working conditions will improve overall.
2. Make use of company resources. Never hesitate to use any resources your company offers. Whether it’s sponsored counseling or an Employee Assistance Program, take the chance to get help addressing mental health conditions. They are there to help all employees.
3. Take a mental health day. You can call in sick from work to treat your mental disorder (as an employee, you do have the right). Or, you can negotiate a different schedule just to destress or get treatment.

Talk to NeuroSpa about Your Mental Health Challenges

If your workplace is the cause of your anxiety, severe depression, or other mental health conditions, NeuroSpa is ready to set you on a path to recovery and ongoing management.

With various treatments for concerns about stress and depression symptoms, we can restore your work-life balance. For instance, talk therapy and supplemental medicine can aid your mental well-being to boost your career development.

Book an appointment with NeuroSpa and discover what treatments are available to you.

Are you in Crisis?

In times of crisis, your safety and well-being are of utmost importance. If you or someone you know is struggling with active thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please remember that help is available. Reach out to emergency services immediately by dialing 911, or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) for compassionate support, guidance, and resources. Remember, you are not alone, and there are people who care and want to help you through this difficult time.

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