Dealing with the stress of a full-time job can be difficult for anyone. If you are suffering from a mental health condition, however, it can be even more challenging.
Below, we take a closer look at how to address issues like anxiety and depression in the workplace, including tips on how to bring up the subject with your coworkers and your boss. Even more importantly, we also provide information on what steps to take if you are discriminated against because of a mental health condition.
You Aren’t Alone
The Mental Health Foundation recently published some statistics that you may find rather eye-opening.
* Mental health problems affect one out of every six adults.
* As much as 10% of the population will suffer from depression at some point during their life.
* Approximately 8% of people experience both depression and anxiety at the same time.
Unfortunately, mental health issues are often considered to be off limits when it comes to discussing them at work. You may be hesitant to talk about these problems because you don’t want your boss to view you differently or because you are worried about discrimination. You shouldn’t suffer in silence, however. It is important to talk about these problems so that you can get the help that you need. They can impact you at work and also at home. One of the best things in such situation is to speak with specialist in this filed, such as those at BetterHelp.
Understand Your Rights
You may find it easier to talk about something so personal in the workplace by taking a practical approach. For instance, you may want to try suggesting changes that would help you deal more effectively with your condition. As an example, if you are currently working in a full-time position, you may ask to be moved to a part-time role so that you have a little less stress. If that is impractical, you could try asking if you could work remotely from your home a couple of days each week. Being able to offer suggestions on how to solve the problem can make discussing the issue with your boss a little bit easier.
Ideally, you should discuss the problem with your manager first. If that is too intimidating, you can also bring it up with your company’s Human Resources department. It is usually best to start with your direct manager, however.
Caring For Yourself
There are a lot of ways that you can support your mental health. For instance, studies have shown that being mindful, exercising regularly, and challenging yourself to learn new things can all benefit your outlook on life. Similarly, maintaining a good balance between your home life and your work life can also help you deal more effectively with mental health conditions.
Building strong social connections with your coworkers and helping other people are also both good strategies to use if you want to start feeling better. When you are on good terms with your colleagues, you can help support each other during difficult times.
Breaking Down The Walls Around Mental Health Issues In The Workplace
It is important to talk openly about mental health problems at work rather than silently suffering. Even though your job is important, your mental health and well-being are, as well. The more willing people are to talk about these problems at work, the less taboo they will become. This, in turn, can lead to better working conditions for everyone.
