Mental Health in the Workplace

Written by Shylia Brassard

What comes to mind when you think of mental health issues: feelings of shame, judgement from others, a sign of weakness or incompetency? Stigma usually arises from a lack of awareness and education. Mental health is “a state of well being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or he community”, according to the World Health Organization. How does mental health affect the workplace? What are the most common mental health issues in the workplace? What are the signs and symptoms of mental health? How can we promote well-being in the workplace?

How does mental health affect the workplace?

Workplaces can be stressful environments and no workplace is immune. People who experience mental health issues may doubt their abilities or appear less confident. A person may have a hard  time concentrating, learning, or making decisions. According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s website : “About 30 per cent of short/ long-term disability claims in Canada are attributed to mental health problems and illnesses. The total cost from mental health problems to the Canadian economy exceeds $50 billion annually. In 2011, mental health problems and illnesses among working adults in Canada cost employers more than $6 billion in lost productivity from absenteeism, presenteeism, and turnover”.

What are the most common mental health issues in the workplace?

The most common mental health issues in the workplace are depression and anxiety. These issues can be brought on by stress, job burnout, discrimination, bullying, and psychological harassment. Other risks to mental health include:

• inadequate health and safety
  policies;
• poor communication and management practices;
• limited participation in decision-making or low control over one’s area of work;
• low levels of support for employees;
• inflexible working hours; and,
• unclear tasks or organizational objectives.

What are the signs and symptoms of mental health?

The signs and symptoms can be different for each person and can range from mild to severe. Below are a list of signs and symptoms that you may encounter: