Both employees and organizations are beginning to realize the importance of mental health in the workplace. While conditions are improving overall, there is still much work to be done. Below you’ll find a guide that will hopefully help you and/or your organization maintain and perhaps improve the overall state of mental health in your workplace.
Mental Health Statistics
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, nearly 58 million people struggled with mental illness in 2021. More than 14 million people endured what was termed as “severe” mental illness.
It’s common for individuals who have a mental illness to also experience other types of health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illness, and other disorders that require treatment. The cost of treating co-occurring illnesses is 2 to 3 times higher than treating one illness.
So, what does this have to do with the workplace?
A lot, as it turns out.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a full-time employee in the United States spends approximately 8.4 hours working every day. That’s more than 2,000 hours per year. We spend a lot of time at work, and what we experience at work has a profound effect on how we view the world and handle things at home. Therefore, the workplace is a logical place to take a close look at mental health, as the losses that occur overall because of these challenges are enormous.
How Mental Health Affects Business and Employees
When an employee experiences poor mental health and stress, this can negatively impact their:
- Job performance and productivity
- Engagement in work activities
- Communications with other employees
- Physical capabilities
- Daylight functioning
Additionally, those who experience mental illness are more likely to doubt their abilities and lack confidence. They may also have a hard time concentrating, learning new things, and making important workplace decisions. These issues can have significant impacts on work performance.
An employee who has a mental illness is also more likely to withdraw from others and act in unexpected ways. They may take a lot of time off and lack productivity. These factors can strain relationships with supervisors and coworkers, further affecting workplace performance and increasing business costs.
If an employee experiences a severe mental illness such as depression, their ability to complete physical job duties is impacted 20% of the time. Depression also reduces an employee’s cognitive performance, about 35% of the time. Only 57% of employees with moderate depression receive proper treatment, as do only 40% of those with severe depression.
Examples of Mental Health Issues in the Workplace
Mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and anxiety typically manifest differently in the workplace than they do in other settings. Workers who experience a mental illness may call in sick often and display decreased productivity, resulting in economic consequences for their workplace. According to a Gallup poll, that economic loss due to mental illness costs the United States economy nearly $48 billion per year.
Below are some specific examples of how mental health challenges affect the workplace overall.
Depression
Depression is the most extensively studied mental illness in the workplace, perhaps because of its prevalence. Almost 6% of employees experience depression symptoms in any given year.
In the workplace, depression often manifests in the following behaviors and symptoms:
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Physical complaints
- Passivity
- Withdrawal from workplace activities
- Lack of productivity
- Fatigue
- Impaired judgment and decision making
Workers who struggle with depression reported losing the equivalent of 27 workdays per year due to sick days taken (9 days) and lost productivity (18 days). People who experience depression are also more likely to lose their jobs or experience frequent job changes.
The continuation of these issues in the workplace is contributed to by a lack of treatment. Only 57% of employees who experience symptoms of major depression reported receiving treatment in the past year, and only 42% of those who received treatment considered it to be adequate.
Bipolar Disorder
Someone who has bipolar disorder often shifts between elevated or manic moods and depressed moods. In the workplace, mania often manifests in the following behaviors and symptoms:
- The appearance of high energy and creativity with a lack of actual productivity
- Self-aggrandizing or disruptive statements or acts
- A general disregard for workplace rules
- Overly aggressive behaviors
- Impaired judgment
During the depressive phase of bipolar disorder, employees are likely to exhibit the same depressive behaviors and symptoms mentioned above. Mania is often more noticeable in the workplace; however, the depressive phase is typically more detrimental to work performance.
About 1% of employees in the United States have bipolar disorder in any given year. Workers diagnosed with bipolar disorder reported losing the equivalent of about 28 workdays per year due to sick days taken and other absences. They also reported losing an additional 35 workdays as a result of lost productivity.
Almost two-thirds of employees who experience symptoms of bipolar disorder reported receiving treatment for it. However, only 45% of those who received care from mental health professionals reported that their care aligned with the published guidelines.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders in the workplace manifest in the following behaviors and symptoms:
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Excess worry
- A near-total lack of confidence and self-worth
- Physical symptoms
- Irritability
About 6% of the population is affected by anxiety at some point in their life. Anxiety often goes undiagnosed for 5 to 10 years, and only about one-third of those experiencing anxiety symptoms receive treatment.
Anxiety disorders cause significant impairment in the workplace, as the number of lost workdays due to sick days taken and lost productivity is similar to that of major depression.
Adult aDHD
A total of 3.5% of employees have been diagnosed with adult ADHD. In the workplace, ADHD manifests in the following behaviors and symptoms:
- Disorganization
- Failure to meet deadlines
- Trouble managing workloads
- Issues following instructions
- Inability to adhere to a schedule
- Arguments with coworkers
Employees who have ADHD reported losing 22 days per year due to sick days taken and lost productivity. Individuals with ADHD are 18 times more likely to be disciplined for their workplace behavior than those who do not have ADHD. They are also likely to earn 20% to 40% less than other employees and four times as likely to lose their job.
Employees who experience ADHD are especially unlikely to receive the treatment they need. Only 13% reported being treated in a 12 month period.
Mental Health Risks in the Workplace
Several factors contribute to poor mental health in the workplace, which can lead to high turnover and a reduction in productivity for a business. These risk factors typically include the workplace structure, interactions at work, how managers function, and the availability of support.
Below are just a few examples of those risk factors.
- Bullying and harassment: A healthy workplace should be void of any mistreatment and hostility.
- Micromanagement: 70% of employees who experienced micromanagement considered quitting their jobs.
- Lack of resources: It is challenging to succeed at work without proper support from a company and its managers.
- Silence regarding mental health issues: Employees may feel like they need to hide their mental illness when a company exhibits a discriminatory or toxic culture.
- Inflexible hours and time off: A lack of flexibility can negatively impact employees’ mental wellbeing.
- Unclear responsibilities and expectations: When expectations aren’t clear, employees are more likely to make mistakes and receive ridicule. This issue can be hard to address, especially when there is a lack of effective communication.
- Unreasonable expectations: When employees are given tasks that do not align with their experience and training, this can set them up for failure.
- Poor work-life balance: Employees who are unable to create separation between their profession and personal life are more likely to experience burnout and a lack of productivity.
What Employers
Can Do
In general, employers need to create a healthy workspace and support their employees, particularly those who suffer from mental health disorders.
Creating a Healthy Workplace
To create a healthy workplace for employees, employers should:
- Be aware of the existing environment and how it can be altered to promote mental health in the workplace
- Learn from leaders and employees who have taken action to create a healthier workplace
- Utilize tools that other companies have used to promote mental health
- Understand that different employees may have different needs
- Take advantage of resources and support for employees who are struggling
- Implement and enforce health and safety policies, which includes identifying distress, substance abuse disorders, and illness
- Provide resources to manage employees who experience mental health issues and inform them that this is available
- Involve employees in decision making and encourage participation
- Incorporate practices that support a healthy work-life balance
- Offer programs for career development
- Recognize and reward employees for their contributions
Additionally, employers should seek mental health interventions that incorporate information about prevention, early identification, support, and rehabilitation. In addition to taking these steps, employers should take extra care to support those who exhibit mental illnesses.
Support Employees with Mental Illnesses
Employers should feel responsible for supporting employees with mental illnesses in their continuation of or return to work. Practicing the steps outlined above can help employees who have mental illnesses. Flexible hours, job redesign, addressing negative dynamics, and supportive and confidential communication are essential for those with mental illnesses.
The stigma associated with mental illness makes it increasingly important for employees who have any kind of mental illness to feel supported. Access to treatment for these illnesses is also effective. Employers can connect their employees with the necessary resources.
WHAT EMPLOYEES
CAN DO
There are also initiatives employees can engage in to promote their own health in the workplace, including:
- Encouraging employers to offer mental health education and programs that meet the needs of employees
- Participating in programs and activities to learn skills and gain mental health support
- Participating in trainings that focus on topics such as how to manage behaviors and attitudes in the workplace
- Sharing personal experiences with coworkers to help reduce stigma
- Maintaining an open mind regarding their coworker’s experiences and feelings
- Engaging in behaviors that promote mental health and stress management
- Eating healthy, exercising regularly, and getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night
- Practicing activities that promote relaxation such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness, or tai chi
- Building social connections
- Reflecting on positive experiences and expressing gratitude
- Asking for help when necessary
If you are experiencing a mental illness that you have not yet sought treatment for, it is crucial to ask for help right away. You are not alone, and there are mental health professionals who can help you. Contact us today to tell us about your situation.