By Allie Vanden Heuvel, Alliance Intern from University of Alabama at Birmingham MPH ‘25
My mental health is the most important aspect of my life. I put my mental health above friends, family, work, and school. This may seem drastic, but how can I be a good daughter, sister, friend, worker, or student when my mental health is suffering?
I didn’t get to this point easily. It took years of work, dedication and learning. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without this effort, and I am better because of it.
I urge you to prioritize your mental health and see how your life blossoms when you do.
October 10 is World Mental Health Day – a reminder to recognize the significance of mental health and its role in your life, while supporting the mental well-being of loved ones.
This movement has never been more important, especially with the US Surgeon General’s finding that 76% of US workers report at least one symptom of a mental health condition, 84% of whom say workplace conditions contributed to symptoms.
What is Mental Health or Better, Mental Well-Being?
Mental health is the state of mental well-being, enabling people to cope with life stress and connect, learn, work, play and live their lives. Even better, I lean towards mental well-being, in which we thrive.
Mental and physical health are equally important to our wellbeing, contrary to what many of us have been taught. Mental health impacts every facet of our daily lives, from being able to get out of bed in the morning to socializing with friends after work.
On top of this, mental and physical health are inextricably linked. Mental illnesses increase the risk for various physical health problems, while chronic diseases can contribute to mental illness. The interrelationship means we should be caring for both mental and physical health – recognizing and addressing stress, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms in our lives.
Vast disparities exist in the prevalence of mental health conditions as well. Of the 57.8 million people living with a mental illness, individuals assigned female at birth, those who identify by two or more races, and American Indian and Alaska Native communities disproportionately experience mental health issues.
World Mental Health Day Theme
The 2024 World Mental Health Day’s theme is “It’s time to prioritize mental health in the workplace.” It highlights the importance of supporting, protecting and promoting employee mental health and recognizing the role that mental health plays in professional environments.
Is Mental Health in the Workplace an Oxymoron?
In the US, 15% of working age adults have a mental health disorder, according to the World Health Organization. Discrimination, inequality, excessive workloads and low job control and security pose a significant risk to mental health – meaning this statistic is only increasing.
Mental health in the workplace may sound like an oxymoron. Most of us have been taught that personal problems are not relevant in professional environments, but I believe just the opposite is true.
The mindset of “leaving your problems at the door” at work disregards employees’ physical and mental health, reducing a person’s value to only their productivity. We all should recognize and support the individual behind the work, whether they’re in a cubicle or serving you a latte.
Work’s Impact on Mental Health
Most of us have experienced the negative impacts work can have on our mental health. In the US, job demands are increasing, coinciding with risks to mental health at work, including:
- Excessive workloads or work pace
- Long, unsocial or inflexible hours
- Unsafe or poor physical working conditions
- Discrimination and exclusion
- Limited support from colleagues or authoritarian supervision
- Job insecurity, inadequate pay or poor investment in career development
- Conflicting home/work demands
- Competition and undermining to do whatever it takes to climb a corporate ladder
On the other hand, the World Health Organization states that decent working conditions and professional environment can support mental health by providing:
- A livelihood
- A sense of confidence, purpose and achievement
- An opportunity for positive relationships and inclusion in a community
- A platform for structured routines
For those with mental health conditions, positive work experiences can help improve symptoms, such as confidence and social functioning.
Workplaces Should Be Supporting Your Mental Well-Being
Even though we’ve been told that mental health is a personal issue, it isn’t. Mental health conditions are a community issue and this includes the workplace. Many accommodations exist to support your mental health and I encourage you to utilize them!
Your workplace should be supporting mental well-being through providing flexible working arrangements and explicitly addressing harassment and discrimination in the organization. Accommodations for those with mental health conditions such as extra time to complete tasks, modified assignments, and time off for mental health appointments are your right.
Both managers and employees should receive training on mental health and well-being. Managers should be able to recognize and respond to employee needs and help manage job demand and stress. Leadership should show a commitment to mental well-being through investment of funds in work-life balance programs, integration of mental health care at work, and compliance with laws and regulations. If your management doesn’t support your well-being, I implore you to call for change.
The Surprising Business Case for Assuring Mental Well-Being at Work
If all of this sounds too kumbaya for those of you who are all about the money, the good news is that having mental well-being in the workplace actually benefits your bottom line. Modern Health cites numerous studies finding:
- Untreated mental health concerns result in substantial costs for businesses – $60,000 annually for one organization and $105 billion nationwide, according to the Center for Prevention and Health Services
- Low morale costs American businesses up to $550 billion a year due to lost productivity, including absenteeism, illness and other problems resulting from employees being unhappy at work, according to Gallup
- Employees with unresolved depression experience a 35% reduction in productivity and miss an average of 31.4 days per year, contributing to a loss in the US economy of $210.5 billion annually in absenteeism, reduced productivity, requests for extended leaves of absence and medical costs
- The cost of a missed workday is estimated to be $340 per day for full-time employees and $170 per day for part-time employees, which could have a major impact on any business
Supporting Your Own Mental Health at Work
Unfortunately, I know that organizations and leadership often do not care about workers’ mental and physical health. Too often, capitalism sees people as just objects so that an employee is just a body in a seat performing work, completely ignoring the individual.
In recognition of this, I want to share some strategies for caring for your mental health, even when others do not.
- Take breaks – As often as you are able, take breaks at work. Even if it is just a minute or so, getting up, moving your body, and relaxing your mind will help your wellbeing. If your manager asks, tell them it reduces stress, which means increased productivity.
- Build supportive relationships – Making meaningful connections with coworkers (and leadership, if possible) can make a significant difference in your work experience. I’ve had jobs that drained me, but fun and kind coworkers improved my day.
- Ask for help – Traditional American values won’t like this one, but if you need help, ask for it! We are taught to be excessively self-reliant, but reaching out is one of the best things you can do when you’re overwhelmed, stressed, or experiencing mental health issues. Coworkers, friends, family and hopefully leadership will want to help you, and will actually improve their mental well-being as well, while deepening relationships.
- Advocate for change – Whenever possible, advocate for positive change in the workplace. Promote work-life balance programs, along with diversity, inclusion and mental health awareness. Encourage management to support your mental health. If you see unequal or unfair treatment, I encourage you to speak up. Given that we spend one-third of our lives at work, why not create a wonderful workplace?
Understanding my own need for mental well-being, I know the difference these steps have made in my personal life. At the same time, as a public health professional, workplace mental health is too often swept under the rug and yet it is a key component for people to experience mental well-being and actually thrive. World Mental Health Day is a great opportunity for all of us to take steps to create a new reality.