People experiencing mental health difficulties can often feel stigmatised. In very simple terms, mental health is not a visible illness (like a broken leg), which can mean people struggle to understand what they can not see. As a result, people with a mental illness can feel misunderstood, and face prejudice and discrimination from the world around them.
The most common mental health conditions include:
- Depression
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Post-natal depression
- Bipolar disorder
Depression
Most of us will be able to recall examples where we’ve felt sad, low or fed up from time to time. Circumstances such as the loss of someone close, deep disappointment, feeling in a rut or feeling trapped in life can all have a profound effect on our mood and outlook.
In most cases, we can move on from this after a short period of time, but some people remain stuck in negativity about themselves, other people or the world in general. Their feelings turn into depression, where they find it affecting their lifestyle to a point that it becomes more and more difficult to function in their everyday life.
Symptoms can include feeling down, restless or agitated, sleep deprivation and/or sleeping too much, loss of appetite or increased appetite, socially isolating oneself from friends or family and finding no pleasure in things you usually enjoy.
Stress
Stress has become a much-used word in recent years. We should remember that a certain amount of stress is actually good for us; it helps keep us alert and is purposeful through the day i.e. helping to keep us focused. However, when the level of stress exceeds a person’s ability to cope and feels relentless then this is likely to have an adverse effect on their wellbeing.
Quite often the person will find it hard to admit to feeling stressed; they may blame themselves for not working hard enough, or being a bad parent, or feeling ashamed of their perceived failure to reach their own expectations. This in turn can lead to similar physical symptoms – similar to those mentioned above regarding depression. Stress can lead to irritability and loss of confidence. It can also cause us to behave ‘out of character’ and experience feelings of acute panic or anxiety.
Anxiety
As with the conditions above, anxiety can be a normal short-term reaction to a worrying incident. Anxiety can develop into a mental health condition when it is based on irrational fears, is out of proportion to the triggering event or has persisted for an extended period after the initial stimulus ceased to be an issue.
Anxiety tends to generate unhelpful avoidance and safety behaviour, which sometimes develops into phobias such as ‘not wanting to leave the home’, or ‘fear of going into crowded spaces’. A common anxiety disorder is obsessive compulsive disorder, where the person finds that they are repeatedly checking and re-checking a particular action such as turning off the lights, or closing the door as they leave the house.
The effects of anxiety may also trigger panic attacks where the person fears that something bad is going to happen, and the anxiety spirals into a cycle of catastrophic misinterpretation of bodily sensations that can in some cases leave the person convinced that they are having a heart attack.
Post-natal depression
Post-natal depression (also referred to as ‘baby-blues’) is a common condition experienced by many women after childbirth which, in most cases, will disappear after a few days. However for some mothers it continues long after and in much the same way as depression becomes extremely debilitating.
As the new mother feels overwhelmed, unable to cope and constantly tired, her mood becomes very low and she is unable to enjoy or bond with her new baby.
Bipolar
Bipolar disorder (sometimes known as manic depression) is a more complicated condition in that the person suffers highs and lows in their moods. In the manic phase the person can feel exhilarated and unrealistically positive, while in the depressive phase they experience the polar opposite, with extremely low mood. Either mood can impede their ability to think clearly. A very low mood may result in very dark and suicidal thoughts, whereas the high manic mood can make them paranoid and elated.
What can managers do?
There are many people who manage mental health conditions while maintaining their job, including demanding and complex job roles. If someone is struggling to cope with their mental health, you can suggest that they consult their GP. Sometimes treatment can involve medication and/or different forms of therapy. This could be from experienced counsellors or initially on a limited basis using services your organisation may have in place – such as occupational health services or an employee assistance programme.
Bipolar disorder in particular is likely to require lifelong treatment and regular check-ups to monitor and manage the condition. There is a good support network available through the NHS who will have ongoing access to local community support.
As a manager who is in regular contact with employees you may be better placed than many to notice changes in your staff’s behaviour and normal routine. One-to-one meetings, return-to-work interviews, appraisals or updates on current projects may enable you to discuss any concerns that you or your member of staff have.
Their concerns may not all be about work, issues at home can also have a negative effect on an employee’s attendance or performance at work. However you should remember that employees may not volunteer information about any problems or challenges they face, and you will need to tread carefully in order not to lose trust.
Reminding the person that they can speak to you at any time in confidence may help them if they do decide to ask for help. Responding positively to any concerns reported will enable you to direct the employee to appropriate support services and help to minimise the risk to your business operation that may develop if the person’s health issues are not addressed promptly and positively. More information about mental health issues in the workplace is available through the links below.
Further information
Mind – Mental health in the workplace.
Acas – Supporting mental health at work.
CIPD – Supporting employees with mental health.
