{"id":8492,"date":"2018-05-19T10:01:01","date_gmt":"2018-05-19T14:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ioadvisory.com\/?p=8492"},"modified":"2021-04-13T08:42:38","modified_gmt":"2021-04-13T12:42:38","slug":"dos-donts-mental-health-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioadvisory.com\/blog\/dos-donts-mental-health-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"Do\u2019s and don\u2019ts – how to be mindful of mental health in the workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trigger warning: mental health problems, especially depression.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I am sure at some point in your life you\u2019ve woken up on a Monday morning with a terrible sore throat and a fever. You quickly realize that there is no way you\u2019ll be making it to your 9 am meeting across town, let alone finishing all those reports that are due on Wednesday. You have accepted that you are sick. There is no escaping the 102-temperature glaring red on the thermometer that is sticking out of your mouth. There\u2019s no way to evade all the tissues that are filling your garbage can within throwing distance of your bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

You reach for the phone and make that call to work: \u201cSorry, I can\u2019t come in and I will probably not be back for a few days either. I\u2019ve got a nasty flu.\u201d Seems simple enough, right? You are doing a solid to yourself and your co-workers\/clients by not coming in and spreading your germs. Plus, you know that taking a few days away from the office is necessary so that you can get back to the job and be more healthy and productive worker rather than pushing through only to end up with something more serious like pneumonia.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, what if you wake up one morning and instead of having a common cold, you open your eyes and just can\u2019t face your life anymore? You can\u2019t get up and get going. You\u2019re unable to take care of what used to be the \u201cnormal\u201d activities of daily living. What if rising from your bed makes you wish you never existed and that the world would be a better place without you in it? How do you call your boss and say, \u201cI can\u2019t come in today because I can\u2019t stop crying?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a difficult and shared reality for so many people. Yet, even though depression, anxiety and other mental health problems exist (and persist), a runny nose and a dry cough usually receive more attention and sympathy in today\u2019s workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>May is National Mental Health Month. The World Health Organization (WHO)<\/a> reports that:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cone in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In Canada, it\u2019s not much better:<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Health Canada, mental health problems are a leading cause of disability in Canada. In 2008, the Institute of Health Economics reported that during any given week approximately 500,000 employed Canadians are unable to work due to mental illness (click here for\u00a0more details and stats<\/a>).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Depression, anxiety, and other psychological difficulties afflict millions, and we must at least acknowledge that each and everyday employees are walking into their workplaces silently suffering<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

As I explained in a previous two-blog about the differences between Industrial and Organizational (I\/O) Psychology<\/a> versus Clinical Psychology<\/a>, mental health issues like anxiety and depression are adjacent to but not quite in my immediate wheelhouse.<\/span><\/p>\n

So how do mental health issues relate to the work that I do? Being heavily involved in HR matters, I have seen first-hand how often mental health issues affect the workplace. For example, when someone is suffering from mental illness, it can hurt their ability to focus and this hurts their productivity and perceived<\/em> motivation. Some people will need to take time off away from work which can be interpreted as chronic absenteeism.\u00a0<\/span>Ongoing absence, a diminished level of concentration, and reduced productivity can all have a negative effect on the bottom line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Best practices from psychology and the vocational rehabilitation fields suggest that employees who are suffering from mental health problems return to work faster, and generally do better\u00a0when their employer is committed to some level of accommodation and flexibility. Also, employees who have mental health issues that are diagnosable by a qualified professional, in this case, a registered clinical psychologist or physician, are protected under human rights legislation. In practical terms, this means that employees who disclose the disability of mental health problems are entitled to accommodation unless it brings on undue hardship (more details are available here<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Many people are (wrongly) ashamed of their depression, anxiety and other psychological issues. Sometimes this misplaced and undeserved shame is accompanied by a fear that they will be perceived as weak and unable to do their job well by their fellow co-workers and upper management. This can lead to further distress because that person is also concerned with losing their livelihood too.<\/span><\/p>\n

After speaking with several clients who have kept their depression a secret from their employers, managers, and coworkers, I have come to appreciate that their apprehension about speaking up is often valid. As one client said over the phone recently:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy boss is the type to ask you how you are doing while rushing past your desk. I don\u2019t think she has ever waited long enough for more than two words to come out of my mouth \u2026 so I have just learned to say, \u201cI\u2019m well\u201d \u2026 clearly, that\u2019s what she wants to hear or she wouldn\u2019t ask while walking so fast and obviously not very interested.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This kind of office atmosphere is not unusual, and in today\u2019s highly competitive, under-resourced, fast-paced world it is no wonder an employee would want to avoid being the squeaky wheel in the company. It doesn\u2019t help that those in upper management positions and high earning executive roles can sometimes be less empathetic by nature (e.g., see this previous article on corporate psychopaths<\/a> or \u2018wolves\u2019 who may even take advantage of others who aren\u2019t at their best).<\/span><\/p>\n

With all this said, how can employers\/organizations do better when it comes to recognizing mental health issues in their work environment? And what can they do (or not do) to avoid making these problems worse?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Some Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Do:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n