Mental health issues at work – what to look out for

Mental health issues at work – what to look out for.

Whether you’re overseeing a team of people or working within one, it is extremely important to be able to spot whether or not an employee or fellow colleague may be suffering with their mental health.

One of the biggest issues in the workplace today is poor mental health, which last year lead to an average of over 70 million working days to be lost. As well as having an enormous impact on individual employees, poor mental health also has severe repercussions for employers too – including sickness absence due to depression, increased staff turnover, severe exhaustion, as well as lost productivity and motivation.

However, while many companies both big and small increasingly understand the importance of good mental health in the workplace, many simply don’t feel confident handling and communicating these issues.

Therefore, with it being ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’ we’ve compiled a list of some of the signs to look out for in order to help determine whether someone in your place of work may be struggling with their mental health – so you can take the necessary steps in order to help and support in the best way possible, as soon as possible.

Cognitive.

An employee suffering from mental health issues may be prone to making more mistakes than usual, have problems making decisions, as well as having trouble concentrating. It is key here to look out for any unexplained and seemingly sudden drops in performance.

Behavioral.  

Has the behaviour of your employee or colleague changed? This may include things such as arriving late, taking unofficial time off, as well as not taking lunch breaks. Are they becoming more introverted or extroverted? Or just generally acting out of character? Previously, this person may have taken part in office banter, whereas now they tend to keep to themselves.

Emotional. 

Do they seem irritable? Or more sensitive to criticism? Those suffering from mental health issues may demonstrate an uncharacteristic loss of confidence or may even seem to have lost their sense of humour.

Physical. 

Those who are stressed tend to exhibit physical symptoms too – these may include being fatigued at work, suffering from a constant cold, rapid weight gain or loss, or looking like they haven’t made an effort with their appearance.

It is important to bear in mind that spotting these symptoms does necessarily mean there is an underlying mental health issue. However, you should consider checking on your employee or colleagues wellbeing by talking with their manager – especially if you suspect they may be going through a difficult time either inside or outside work.

If you suspect that maybe yourself or someone you know may be suffering from their mental health then for more information, support or advice please visit: https://www.mind.org.uk/

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

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