How to Deal with Mental Health at Work

Dealing with mental health is not always an easy thing. It doesn’t matter if we are at home, hanging out with friends, surrounded by family or even at work – it can still be hard. There are so many different circumstances that can come into play making dealing with mental health at work seem worse than it really is. It’s easy to get caught up in the fear of judgement or not being supported by those around you, especially at work.

Mental health support is very close to those at Language Marketplace which is why we want to share with you three ways that can help you deal with mental health while at work.

Ask For Help

This might sound obvious, but for many and maybe even you it’s the hardest part. Being open about what’s going and what you are dealing with is a great first step. When you talk with a confidant at work, they will be able to guide you towards resources and other methods of assistance to help you. Most workplaces will have mental health support resources in place. This sometimes includes therapy within your benefits, an employee assistance program, or referrals to other resources.

Keep in mind that when you do go to ask for help it’s up to you how much you want to share and whom you want to share it with. Mental health can stay confidential as it is personal to you. You are allowed to let the person know, who you want the information shared with or if you want it to stay confidential.

Another great benefit to asking for help at work is that you now have a larger support team. Those who are aware of what’s going on can support you further when you need it most. This makes going into work on the harder days a touch easier because you know that there are people there to help you through the day. They can also help you create and stick to your boundaries to protect your mental health.

Set Boundaries

When we think of boundaries, many of us think of them as a protocol that we need to put into place AFTER something has happened. We then believe that this boundary will protect us from whatever harmed us in the first place. Although this does help, there is a better way to go about using boundaries.

Boundaries should be created to prevent the harmful thing from happening in the first place, especially when it comes to mental health. This will help eliminate specific triggers that might sway your mental health in a negative way.

To set up boundaries it’s important to make sure that other people are aware of what they are to help support you with them. For example, let’s say you are aware that working overtime every day has a negative impact on your mental health. To help prevent this you set up a boundary that you will leave work every day at 430pm no matter what is going on. You already know that there will be days that you are willing to break that boundary, but because you have told your colleagues and your boss, they will ensure that you leave no later than 430pm. This creates a positive work environment full of accountability and support from those around you.

Not only do boundaries help prevent some mental health issues, they also will help you create more balance in your life. Having balance between work, family, friends, and more is important to ensure that you are being fulfilled in all areas of life. There are will still be times where boundaries are not enough to prevent a negative impact on your mental health, and you will need to take a step back.

Take A Break

It’s inevitable at times, but very needed. When push comes to shove, be okay with taking a break. It doesn’t make you any less of a person, in fact it makes you stronger. A break doesn’t mean a long time or a short time, it just means whatever you need at that time. Sometimes it might be an extra hour during the day or a whole day off. Other times you might need a week or more to work on yourself and get back to you.

It doesn’t matter what type of break you need or why, what matters is that you take it at the first sign you feel of needing it. Being open about this to your work is all a part of asking for help when you need it. You will be able to perform better in all areas of your life when you are able to recognize when you need to take a break no matter how long it is.

Be Mindful

One of the most important things to remember when dealing with mental health at work is to be mindful. This means being mindful of how you feel, how are you are honouring your boundaries and when you need to take a step back. This also includes being mindful of those around you and reaching out your hand to those who may need it.

Just remember we are all in this together. To find more resources on mental health check out Peaksforchangefoundation.org