There’s no doubt that mental health is an important issue in today’s society. With mental health disorders affecting one in five adults in the United States, it’s clear that these issues are not going away anytime soon.
Despite the prevalence of mental health disorders, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding mental illness. This stigma can make it difficult for people to seek help or even just to talk about their mental health.
One of the places where this stigma can be especially prevalent is in the workplace. Many people feel like they can’t discuss their mental health at work for fear of being seen as weak or unable to do their job.
Some people say discussions of mental health are a personal issue and don’t need to be in the workplace. Others argue discussions about mental health can help people who are struggling to get the support they need. They argue these discussions can help make a better office environment.
Let’s take a look if we should encourage discussions of mental health in the workplace.
Why we shouldn’t talk about mental health in the workplace
There are some reasons why people might say we shouldn’t discuss mental health in the workplace.
- Personal issue
One reason is that it’s seen as a personal issue that doesn’t need to be discussed at work. For instance, you wouldn’t necessarily talk about a physical ailment you had if it wasn’t relevant. Some people believe discussions of mental health should be between you and your health care providers.
- Uncomfortable discussion
Another reason is that discussing mental health in the workplace can make some people feel uncomfortable. If someone is struggling with their mental health, they might not want to talk about it in front of their coworkers.
- Discrimination
Some might argue that discussing mental health in the workplace can lead to discrimination. If an employer knows that an employee is struggling with their mental health, they might be less likely to promote them or give them raise
Why we should talk about mental health
There are some good reasons why people say we should talk about mental health in the workplace.
- Support employees
Encouraging discussions of mental health in the workplace can help employees who are struggling get the support they need. For instance, if an employee is dealing with anxiety, they might feel more comfortable talking to their supervisor about it if they know it’s an open discussion. An employer could help their employee find solutions like an individual therapy program.
- Reduce stigma
Another reason is that it can help reduce the stigma around mental health. Talking about mental health openly in the workplace can help normalize these discussions and make people feel more comfortable talking about their own mental health.
- Can be life-saving
In some cases, discussing mental health in the workplace can be life-saving. For instance, if an employee is dealing with suicidal thoughts, talking to a supervisor about it could help them get the resources and support they need.
Conclusion
Overall, there are pros and cons to having discussions of mental health in the workplace. It’s important to weigh these carefully before making a decision.
If you’re on the fence, think about how you would feel if you were struggling with your mental health. Would you feel more comfortable talking about it in the workplace if you knew it was an open discussion? Or would you prefer to keep it between you and your health care providers?
Ultimately, the goal should be to create a supportive and welcoming workplace for all employees. You want to be able to work in an environment that won’t discriminate against you just because you have mental health issues.
