Fighting the Shame Monster of Mental Health in the Workplace

How comfortable do you feel about discussing your mental health? Does this comfort level drop when talking about mental health in a workplace context? Recent studies show that about half of the global workforce fear repercussions for being open about their mental health at work.

Why this is frightening is that in a post-pandemic world where people are dealing with the loss of loved ones in families, or the loss of livelihoods in communities, mental health has been widely affected. We are seeing that many people have developed anxiety and more serious mental health problems have become amplified, in addition to many people falling below the poverty line.

Today, according to the World Health Organisation, 300 million people globally have depression and anxiety disorders. To quantify this in monetary terms: it is estimated that mental illness in the workplace costs businesses across the globe more than US$150 billion annually, according to JAMA Psychiatry.

One would think with numbers like that, companies would really prioritise their employees’ mental wellbeing. However, many employees feel companies simply pay lip service to wellbeing in the workplace. Another recent global survey confirmed that while 85% of companies feel that they really care about the needs of their employees, even more employees hardly agree.

The further you drill down into the data, the more you see that companies feel that their staff expect too much mental health support. This same survey also found that 71% of companies see mental health benefits as too costly and that they were not offered in the past, therefore they should not be necessary now.

It has repeatedly become clear that companies that really prioritise mental health not only attract top talent to their organisation, but it also acts as a workplace retention booster. The difference in turnover rates between thriving employees and those who are struggling is considerable. Added to this is the old adage that if you look after your staff, your staff look after your bottom line.

Perhaps even more compelling in this overstressed world is the fact that employees who feel strongly that their employer cares about their overall wellbeing are 71% less likely to report experiencing a burnout.

If you are one of the many people who feel that their mental wellbeing is unsupported in their workplace, you are not alone. Experts say that the first step to combat the global aversion to supporting mental wellness is to speak about it. The lack of conversations around mental health keeps any stigma surrounding this topic alive.

Author Brené Brown’s most shared quote is this: “Shame cannot survive being spoken. It cannot tolerate having words wrapped around it. What it craves is secrecy, silence and judgement. If you stay quiet, you stay in a lot of self-judgement.”

Says Brown, “The less you talk about it, the more you have got it.” She explains that by talking about your shame with a friend who expresses empathy, the painful feeling cannot survive. “Shame depends on me buying into the belief that I’m alone.”

Feeling alone in your struggles keeps you struggling. It is when we open up and have real conversations about what we are going through that we can share our load and find meaningful advice, guidance and sometimes even friendship.

In addition to speaking about where you are at, other things you can do to support your mental wellness at work if you are feeling unsupported, is to remember acceptance, movement and holidays.

ACCEPTANCE

We are only human and everyone around the world experiences good days and difficult days. Your difficult days are not a reflection of your success, and they will not last forever. Going through a difficult time does not define who you are.

MOVEMENT

Staying active is one of the most recommended ways of taking charge of your mental health and wellbeing. There are many different and simple ways you can bring exercise into your working day. Just getting up from your desk to take a quick walk around the office every hour can have a major impact on your movement during the day. The stairs instead of the elevator or a ten-minute stretch session can do wonders for your mood.

HOLIDAYS

Many people are struggling under the weight of work pressures, clocking up their leave days and pushing through their lunch hour when in truth there are two types of productivity: useful and useless. Overtired or overworked people are less productive. You might be present at work but are you producing effectively? Stepping away from your desk to take a lunch break can have a major impact on what you achieve in the afternoon. Going away to reset yourself can mean the difference in work output when you return. Use your vacation time and take a lunch break – it is all about prioritising your mental health.

Kirsty Watermeyer