Mental Health At Work: How To Cope When We're Under Stress
Mental health problems are common, but stigma and prejudice means they are frequently misunderstood and poorly acknowledged.
Stress at work is a leading cause of mental illness and can lead to an outbreak of workplace stress or an increase in stress-related illnesses if left unaddressed.
Mental health doesn’t just refer to our state of mind; it encompasses how we think, feel, and interact with others. When someone has a mental illness, they experience prolonged periods of heightened stress that can have both short-term and long-term consequences on their life.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that by the year 2030, depression will be the second highest cause of global Disability-adjusted Life Years (DALYs) after heart disease.
The DALY is a measurement for quantifying the standard for disease burden in population. This article focuses on stress related to mental health at work and offers tips to keeping your mind healthy in the workplace.
Why are we stressed at work?
There are many reasons why people experience stress at work. At its most basic level, stress is an emotion that arises when we perceive that we are under pressure to meet a challenge.
Stress can be a positive force that encourages us to step up and do our best in a situation that requires some extra effort, but too much stress is unproductive and unhealthy.
At work, different types of stress can arise from many sources, including workload, deadlines, relationships with colleagues, and job security.
Common sources of workplace stress include: - Workload: Feeling overburdened by the amount of work that has to be done - Deadlines: Having an important project or an important client event looming that you simply can’t miss - Relationships: Having a difficult relationship with a colleague or manager - Job security: Worrying that you might lose your job - Health and wellbeing: Facing illness, injury, or disability
Keep your mind healthy at work
When you’re under stress, it can be difficult to see the bigger picture. You may convince yourself that you can’t take time out for rest and relaxation, or that you’ll let your colleagues down if you ask for help with your workload.
You might also worry that asking for help might damage your relationship with your colleagues. However, there are plenty of easy ways to keep your mind healthy at work, even when you’re stressed. - Take a break - Taking a short break from your work at regular intervals can help you to clear your mind and come back to your tasks with a fresh perspective.
Try to make a habit of taking breaks throughout the day, even if it’s just for five minutes to get some fresh air and stretch your legs. - Practice self-care - When you’re stressed, it can be easy to forget about your personal health and wellbeing needs.
Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and taking time out to relax and unwind. - Find support - Sometimes, it can be helpful to share your experiences and challenges with others in a similar situation. Joining a support group or talking to a trusted colleague could help you to cope with stress.
Dealing with workplace stress
If you feel that you are struggling with stress at work, there are a few steps you can take to resolve the situation and regain your mental health.
First, it’s important to recognise and acknowledge that you are experiencing stress. Then, you can make a list of the issues or challenges you are facing and brainstorm ways to address them.
This can help you to identify the root cause of your stress and come up with solutions to help you cope with the situation.
Lastly, if you do feel that the stress is negatively impacting your mental health and well-being, you should speak up. I
t’s important to take action when you’re experiencing stress, since it can have serious consequences on both your mental and physical health if left unaddressed.
Conclusion
Stress at work can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health, but there are lots of ways you can reduce its impact. It’s important to find ways to manage your workload, set realistic deadlines, develop positive relationships with your colleagues, and maintain your health and wellbeing.
If you do feel that you are struggling with stress at work, it’s important to recognise the signs and seek help from your manager or a trusted colleague.