Mental Health: A Challenge at Work
The importance of employees’ physical safety has long been a concern of occupational health and safety. However, over the past few years, we are noticing a growing concern about workers’ mental health.
Although the injuries are invisible, the effects of work on mental health are real and can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. Moreover, those injuries are even more damaging in many cases than traditional work accidents.
In this article, we will cover the most severe psychological hazards that threaten workers, as well as the best ways to avoid affecting the mental health of employees.
The positive effects of work on mental health
Although we often talk about the negative impacts of work on mental health, it’s worth discussing how it can also be positive.
A job provides revenue and offers safety for employees. Also, the presence of colleagues promotes social contact and lessens loneliness. Work helps develop the employee’s self-esteem and professional and personal skills.
Work helps to build our professional identity and find our place in society.
The negative effects of work on mental health
Work is crucial for proper human development, even if it can generate stress. Unfortunately, many diseases and health problems are associated with work and work environments each year.
The negative effects of work conditions on an individual’s mental health affect their quality of life, productivity and functioning.
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, 70% of Canadian workers are concerned about mental health at work. On the other hand, 14% of respondents believe that their workplace is not healthy or safe. As discussed further below, this environment can severely affect employees’ psychological safety.
The most frequent mental disorders associated with work are as follows:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Burnout
- Adjustment disorders
- Dependency (alcohol, gambling, drugs)
Here are some statistics from the Study and Research Centre in Mental Health and Work:
| In 2020, depression was the second cause of disability in the world | Each week, 500 K Canadian workers are on sick leave due to a common mental disorder |
| About 40% of sick leaves are due to a common mental disorder | 50% risk of relapse after the first episode of depression |
What are the causes?
Undoubtedly, the work environment plays a major role in triggering or worsening mental disorders. The relationship between coworkers can affect the psychological health of an individual, especially when discussing discrimination, intimidation and physical/verbal harassment.
Also, exposure to a traumatic event in the workplace can have that effect.
Lastly, stress and exhaustion are two other causes resulting from the conflict that an individual can experience between the demands of their employer and their working capacity. Stress primarily emerges when expectations are too high, and the employee feels a loss of control over the situation.
Here is a list of factors to monitor:
- Workload
- Work pace
- Worker’s skills
- Isolated at work
- Conflicts
- Job insecurity
- Trust
- Prejudice or discrimination
- Harassment
- Injustice
- Work conditions
What are my options?
First, the employer must offer a healthy workplace that supports its employees.
If the cause of stress comes from a physical aspect, it is crucial to eliminate it at the source. Developing a list of tasks can greatly help limit stress coming from the employee’s skills. Guidelines inform the employee of what the employer expects of them.
The employer must assess the work environment and identify stress sources. Furthermore, the organization must evaluate the potential risks and the individuals most at risk of suffering from stress at work.
To do so, participative team meetings, employee training on that topic, an employee appreciation system and harassment preventive measures are all good practices. Paying attention to the workload and work/personal life balance is also essential.
This environment can help reduce the risk and duration of mental disorders. In addition, we observed increased productivity, improved employees’ well-being, and economic growth.
To learn more about implementing best practices to help people suffering from mental disorders or enduring high-stress levels, Bell Let’s Talk provides many valuable tools 👉 https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/ways-to-help.
