For many of us, work is a major part of our lives. It is where we spend much of our time, where we may have most contact with other people, where we make our money and where we sometimes make our friends. Having a fulfilling job is good for your mental health and general wellbeing.
We all go through tough times and work can help us cope or make us feel worse.
Someone you work with may be feeling the distress that comes with life events such as the loss of someone close. They may say they are at the end of their tether, but feel unable to take time off. Or they may be experiencing panic attacks or a mental health problem like depression, whether or not they have had it diagnosed by a doctor.
‘Emotional crisis’, ‘nervous breakdown’ or ‘mental health problem’ - we may describe these experiences very differently, but the important thing is that there are ways that, as colleagues, we can help.
However powerless you may feel at first, knowing the basics about how to support your colleague can really help you – and them. Although you can’t solve your colleague’s problems, there are a few simple steps you can take.
Working in a supportive team that cares about the wellbeing of its members can make a huge difference to their ability to cope.
This information outlines how you can help someone get through a difficult time or find a way of living with a long-term problem.
What works for you?
What is mental health?
How you think and feel about yourself and your life affects how you behave and how well you cope when times are tough. It affects your ability to make the most of the opportunities that come your way and play a full part in your family, workplace, community and among friends. It’s also closely linked with your physical health.
Whether you call it wellbeing, emotional welfare or mental health, it’s key to living a fulfilling life.
At work, you may be down or upbeat, calm or edgy, you may withdraw or you may socialise with colleagues. Many things can affect how you feel. Your home life, personal relationships and financial situation affect your mood at work just as much as the tasks you have to do, your working environment and your relationship with your colleagues. You bring what’s happening in
your life to work with you every day: the excitement of a new home, grief at the loss of a loved one, worries about how your children are doing at school.
How to help colleagues through tough times
How you think also influences how you respond to events. It’s different for everyone and some people are more emotionally resilient than others.
That’s no-one’s fault. It’s just the way we are. Pressure at work, for instance, motivates some people, but the same amount of pressure can make others feel stressed and, over a long period, that’s not good for your mental health.
What are mental health problems?
Mental health problems affect the way you think, feel and behave. They are problems that can be diagnosed by a doctor, not personal weaknesses.
Mental health problems are very common. About a quarter of the population experience some kind of mental health problem in any one year.
Anxiety and depression are the most common problems with around 1 in 10 people affected by a mixture of the 2 at any one time. Although anxiety and depression are common, they can be severe and long-lasting and have a big impact on people’s ability to get on with life.
Only 1-2% of people experience a severe mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, and have periods when they lose touch with reality. People affected may hear voices, see things no-one else sees, hold unusual beliefs, feel exceptionally self-important or read particular meanings into everyday events.
Although certain symptoms are common with specific mental health problems, no two people behave in exactly the same way when they are unwell.
Many people who live with a mental health problem or are developing one try to keep their feelings hidden because they are afraid of other people’s reactions. And many people feel troubled without having a mental health problem that can be diagnosed - although that doesn’t mean there’s any less reason to offer your support.What works for you?
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