What’s it like to work where you work? Is it a busy environment where you are asked to do more with less? Well, what if you are home, after a long day of work? Do you have your devices connected to your work email? Do you sleep with those devices? Do you work during the weekend? Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and started thinking about work?

Research claims that those are already early signs of stress. Our minds are constantly occupied with thoughts of work, and this is reflected in the everyday occurrences of our lives. We may find ourselves daydreaming about a project while walking to the store, or mulling over a problem while doing the dishes. We may even find ourselves making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas while taking a shower. These common things happening in our lives explain to us that our mind is continuously thinking about work. This is why at least one-third or half of us already developed a kind of anxiety and depression during our working lives. It would surprise a lot of people that mental illness is the leading cause of disability in workplaces everywhere in the world.

Author Ashley Sides Johnson started the TedTalk by saying “You may not realize it, but there’s an elephant in your office.” What a peculiar thing to say you might wonder. “An elephant in the office is someone experiencing a mental illness in the office. According to research, one out of five people in the US experiences a certain form of mental illness in a given year. Most of them are employed.” Then Ashley goes on by saying “If I assume you all have a job, I bet we can do a quick math and figure out who is mentally ill. You ready?” And she begins by counting from one to five and pointing to the fifth person, which caused the crowd to self-consciously chuckle as they felt awkward. “If being labeled as someone with a mental illness makes us nervous in a fictional scenario, we should think about how the elephants feel: scared, insecure, secretive…and fake.”  

How bad is the problem?

Over the years, people have endured numerous challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about constant health threats with the emergence of new variants and the economic crisis has also taken a toll on many. And these issues have only scratched the surface of what some are facing at home and work. Some people are carrying heavy burdens on their shoulders when it comes to every aspect of life, being forced to compartmentalize their issues creating a separate identity to enable them to cope with personal and professional issues while receiving no empathy from those around them, who too are shouldering their own burdens and might be too preoccupied in their own struggles to understand those of others.

Struggles in everyday life, isolation, or lack of support could lead to an array of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorder. According to a WHO’s report on Mental health in 2022, Depression is one of the leading causes of disability. Around 20% of the world’s children and adolescents have a mental health condition, with suicide the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds.

Mental health is often overlooked and not easily recognized. It can be hard to identify and diagnose, and many people are unaware of the signs and symptoms of mental illness. This lack of knowledge and understanding can lead to people not seeking help or support when they need it. Additionally, stigma and discrimination can prevent people from seeking help, as many people feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about their mental health issues. Without proper recognition, mental health issues can go untreated, leading to more severe problems down the road. We as a society must become more aware of mental health issues and create a safe and supportive environment for those who are struggling.

According to WHO, two of the most common mental health conditions, depression, and anxiety, cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year. Despite these figures, the global median of government health expenditure that goes to mental health is less than 2%.

With mental health just now getting recognition from nations, the conversation is still yet to be had as an important topic on leadership tables of organizations. But why should companies start having conversations on mental health? A publication by the WHO states, 15% of working-age adults were estimated to have a mental disorder in 2019. Globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety for US$ 1 trillion per year in lost productivity.

Numbers don’t lie, and they give us a clear indication of the gravity of the situation when it comes to mental health. The statistics are a stark reminder that we need to take concrete steps to address this issue.

Mental health issues can negatively affect the workplace by decreasing productivity, hindering communication within departments, causing safety issues, increasing attrition, increasing the number of employees leaving their jobs to mental health issues, and even violence in the workplace. Companies must come up with initiatives that can effectively tackle the problem of mental health and provide support to those who are affected. Only then can one hope to make a real difference and create a better future for everyone.

What causes mental health issues in the workplace?

The Harvard Business Review uncovered in their article “It’s a New Era for Mental Health at Work”. According to research they conducted, a whopping 84% of their respondents reported at least one workplace factor that negatively impacted their mental health. Employees don’t experience mental health challenges in isolation. Employers play a role, too — both good and bad.

Citing WHO’s publishing, the main factors that lead to mental health problems in the workplace are listed below:

• Excessive workload, under-use of skills, unsafe or poor physical working conditions,
• An organizational culture that enables negative behaviors, limited support from colleagues,
• Violence, harassment or bullying, discrimination, and exclusion, unclear job role, under- or over-promotion,
• Job insecurity, inadequate pay, poor investment in career development; and conflicting home/work demands.

What kind of actions should companies take to address mental health issues?

When it comes to mental health in the workplace, it is imperative to acknowledge that this is a relatively new and unexplored territory. It is only recently that both employers and employees have begun to recognize its significance and the impact it can have on productivity, morale, and overall well-being. Therefore, it is crucial to consider oneself a pioneer in this emerging field. By taking the initiative to create a workplace environment that is conducive to mental health, one can help establish the standard for the future of mental health in the workplace. Do you notice the elephant in the room? It is essential to show compassion. We can never truly comprehend what the other person is going through at that moment. Although it may be a challenging conversation to have, it is equally important to be empathetic and supportive. Below are some ways to address the issue of mental health in the workplace.

• Manager training for mental health creates a better awareness of how job pressures affect mental health and may be controlled; helps managers identify and respond to supervisees who are suffering emotional distress; builds interpersonal skills including open communication and active listening;
• Training for employees: improve mental health literacy and awareness for employees in order to improve knowledge of mental health, and reduce stigma against mental health conditions at work.
• Interventions for individuals: to improve stress management abilities and lessen mental health symptoms, including psychosocial interventions and opportunities for leisure-based physical activity.
• Create a healthy workplace: Build a culture of trust to enable a gracious and mutually trusted environment inside your company that highlights the significance of mental health acceptance and awareness. Giving people access to resources for mental health, like counseling services, mental health days, and employee help programs, could achieve this.