Speaking Up about mental health at work
With close to 50% of Australians experiencing a mental health condition and one in five women experiencing depression and one in three women experiencing an anxiety disorder during their lifetime mental health is everyone’s business.
When talking about the topic of workplace stress and mental health in the workplace much of the conversation focuses on what employers need to do to ensure the good health of their people.
Many organisations and businesses offer wellness programs focused on physical and mental health such as online wellness sites with resources and tools to get and stay healthy, onsite gyms, seminars on mindfulness and achieving balance, and in house health care centres.
Whilst we applaud organisations pulling out all the ‘bells and whistles’ in offering programs and services designed to support all areas of their employees’ health, the most important thing a business can do to support the mental health of their people is to talk about the topic with confidence and sensitivity. Workplaces need to be mental health literate, having the knowledge and understanding of mental health issues to allow proper recognition, management and prevention.
Having a conversation is a two- way street. Talking about mental health at work is a responsibility shared by the employer, employee and colleagues.
Amelia, who was diagnosed with Post Natal Depression after having her second child works in a busy medical practice acknowledges talking about her condition is difficult
“I feel nervous and embarrassed talking about it. I shouldn’t feel this way as I know the science, depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain not unlike other illnesses like diabetes and I still struggle with having the conversations where I talk about it and name it.”
Working Savvy Occupational Therapist Jacqui Broadbridge, who for over 25 years has been supporting people who live with depression, anxiety or another mental illness to find and keep work says Amelia is not alone “most people don’t disclose or talk about their experience of mental illness due to stigma – especially males. Women who choose to disclose, choose their words very carefully and avoid using labels and instead talk about work related triggers, for example ‘I can get headaches if I am under the pump all week’”
Jacqui in her work has worked with hundreds of employers and thousands of clients in her career says “Mangers end up noticing the health issue as a change in behaviours; lack of confidence, seeming nervous or reactions not fitting the situation. It can be just as difficult for managers to have a conversation around issues of mental health. Employers and managers talk to me about their concerns with overstepping personal boundaries, saying the wrong thing, making the situation worse or opening up a ‘can of worms’ that they won’t be able to put the lid back on.”
Travel agent and business owner Jodi agrees.
“I have become more comfortable over time with having conversations on the topic of mental health with my staff. Having these conversations were not easy at first, you are talking to people about things that are very personal to them. It is important you respect this and respect most likely they do not want everyone in the office to know, regardless of how close a team it is.”
Jodi’s lesson to other business owners and managers is “understand you may need to have several conversations on the topic of mental health, these are not one-off conversations and resist jumping in with hard and fast solutions to what you see as the problem.”
Peta, mother of two, business owner, board member and completing her second post graduate degree, several years ago found herself in hospital for 6 weeks after being diagnosed with depression. She recalls “I was in my fifth week of the hospital stay and I had to attend a business conference. I arrived at the conference and soon found myself making a statement in front of TV cameras and reporters on the childcare sector. It was surreal and nobody knew I was currently in hospital being treated for depression.” Peta acknowledged at the time it was very important that people did not know that she was being treated for depression, “I felt very protective of my reputation especially in regard to my business clients, I was very worried about the stigma attached to mental illness.”
Now, with the wisdom of hindsight Peta is a believer in talking about her experience of depression, although as she told me with a laugh not everyone is as comfortable hearing it “I was at a professional event and health was the topic of conversation, I mentioned I had a stay in hospital for depression and the person I was talking to dropped eye contact immediately and started to look over my shoulder for a way out. This is rare, usually people will share their own experience or talk about how someone they know who has a mental illness and be very supportive.”
Jacqui says in the work place most conversations on mental health are successful with a good outcome for both the employee and the manager but acknowledges like in Peta’s experience she knows of situations where the outcome isn’t as positive “I have worked with clients where the conversation hasn’t gone well, where there is a lack of understanding or a feeling of support. The difficult question the employee then faces is, is this place of employment in the best interests of my health?”
Peta recognises having her own experience of mental illness has made her a better employer,
“I am a better boss because I am in a true position of empathy.”
Healthy mind tips for employers and leaders
Have the conversation early avoid wanting for an issue to become one of performance before visiting the topic of mental health. Focus on behaviours you are noticing instead of using words like anxiety or depression. Such as “you seem to get very nervous when called upon to give your opinion in a meeting.”
Make mental health a year-round conversation at work. Don't wait to ask 'are you ok?'
Step in and don't make it someone else's problem to solve. Managers and leaders need to check in on how team members are progressing and be proactive and not reactive
Healthy mind tips for employees
Be couargeous and start a conversation there is a good chance the person you are talking to has had their own experience and knows someone who has experienced a health - mental issue
Avoid diagnostic terms instead of saying depression talk about what causes you stress
Approach the conversation with confidence and a solution focused approach "I feel overwhelmed when tasks are piled on me quickly and I am being asked to respond straight away. What I need is to be able sit quietly for 10 minutes to get my thoughts organised before coming back to you.
Build your confidence and prepare yourself before having a conversation, practise with someone you feel safe with such as a mentor, friend, a trusted team member.
Never apologise for having a mental illness. Mental illness doesn't define you and you are the expert in your treatment and wellbeing management