How You Can Help Improve Your Mental Health At Work

Feb 14, 2020

Did you know that one in five U.S. adults will be affected by mental illness at least once in their lifetime? This is according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. That means your neighbor, friend, family member, or even your co-worker could be struggling with some type of mental illness, even if you do not know it.

1 in 5 adults in the United States experience a mental health condition in a given year. NAMI

While the topic has been more openly discussed in recent years, especially amongst Millennials and Generation Z, there are still some places where the stigma stands. Most prevalent is in the workplace. In fact, 60 percent of employees have never spoken to anyone at work about their mental health status, mostly for fear of repercussions.

Now workplace stresses are not uncommon and sometimes come with the territory depending on the type of job you work. But if left unchecked it can lead to even bigger problems. Stress can create debilitating negative emotions, it can lower productivity, it can make it harder to concentrate at work, and creates strained relationships between colleagues.

So, what can you do to help improve your mental health when it comes to work? Well first, let’s talk about why it is so important.

 

 

 

 

 

Why does your mental health matter?

“Mental health is the foundation for emotions, thinking, communication, learning, resilience, and self-esteem,” according to the American Psychiatric Association. “It is also key to relationships, personal and emotional well-being and contributing to community or society.”

As important as mental health is, we as a society tend to prioritize our physical well-being at the expense of our mental health. Instead, the two should be compared simultaneously. Mental health plays a major role in your ability to maintain good physical health. Not to mention, just like physical health, good mental health is critical to workplace success.

In fact, depression and anxiety have a significant economic impact. According to a recent World Health Organization study, the estimated cost to the global economy is US$ 1 trillion per year in lost productivity.

A poorly run workplace can even exacerbate mental health problems or could induce a problem in a person who would otherwise be healthy. This can affect employees’ job performance and productivity, their communication with coworkers, and even their daily functioning.

 

Tips to help improve your mental health at work

 

 

6 Ways to Improve your Mental Health at Work infographic by Friday Services in Asheville

 

What you can do at home to better help your mental health

 

Help better your mental health at home. Friday Services, Asheville, NC

 


 

Additional Mental Health Resources

Provided by the National Institute of Mental Health

If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Use these resources to find help for you, a friend, or a family member.

  • Talk to your primary care doctor or another healthcare professional about your mental health concerns.
  • Ask your employer if they offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Reach out to friends and family
  • Join a support group in your area

 

Get immediate help in a crisis

Provided by the National Institute of Mental Health

Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger or go to the nearest emergency room.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 1-888-628-9454
The Lifeline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Lifeline connects callers to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889.

Crisis Text Line

Text “HELLO” to 741741
The Crisis Text hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the U.S. The Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, connecting them with a crisis counselor who can provide support and information.

Veterans Crisis Line

Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1 or text to 838255
The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that connects veterans 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a trained responder. The service is available to all veterans, even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA healthcare. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss can call 1-800-799-4889.

For more information and resources, visit the NIMH website (National Institute of Mental Health).

Employees

If you see a lot of potential in yourself – so do we! Start your job search and learn about the opportunities and benefits offered.

Employers

Friday Services is independent and locally owned. We offer Western North Carolina employers strategic flexibility with greater attention to detail.