You deserve to work in an environment where you feel accepted. Sometimes, feeling at home in your company might be challenging when you think you can't be sincere. Worse, there's still a stigma around mental health in the workplace. Thankfully, you can build your business into a caring, accepting environment where you can share anything.
You don't know how far positive words can go in your workplace. When you see a co-worker trying hard or embracing a challenge, compliment them. Even a small amount of praise can be an immediate reward for their hard work, which might boost their motivation to continue with a task, as it did in a study by the University of Chicago.
Compliments can also boost mental health. Someone may have had a terrible morning and didn't expect something nice to happen at work. Encouraging people who are doing well and those who are struggling shows everyone their hard work is noticed and pays off — making them feel like a valuable part of the workplace.
Hostile environments don't make for comfortable workplaces. Do your part to ensure your company is one of growth and learning. The best part is that you can show people it’s OK to make mistakes. When someone points out an error you made, be gracious to them for finding it. Don't get defensive over accidents.
Over time, your willingness to rectify mistakes and take accountability may spread to the rest of your workplace. It could become a more supportive environment, thanks to your de-escalating conflicts by dealing with situations in the best way possible. You can make a huge difference just by talking to people differently.
You likely aren't the only person in your office with strong feelings. Your co-workers may also be trying to hide that they're struggling with their mental health. Opening up to and checking in on them and checking may encourage them to talk about mental health and not being OK isn't so taboo.
Try to notice your co-workers' habits. They might have difficulty eating, like 32% of people who struggle with mental health issues. Invite them to discuss their feelings openly and honestly with you — judgment-free. Simply listening to them can help make your work environment more supportive, as both of you will likely pay it forward in the future.
When you approach the topic of mental health with your co-workers and supervisors, consider including resources that will help them understand. These can come in the form of websites or audiobooks that explain more about where you're coming from.
These resources come in handy when explaining why you may need to take time off. They may also allow co-workers to empathize with you and treat the whole workplace with more sensitivity. Some people might be rude out of ignorance — once they learn more about mental health issues and how they affect a lot of the population, they may soften up.
When you think co-workers won't address your worries at your level, take it to your supervisor or manager. Talk to them about how you feel and how mental health can impact workplace culture. Make them realize that the number of people struggling emotionally is much higher than they think — possibly 15% or more of working-age adults worldwide.
You can also address potential discrimination. It doesn't lead to an accepting, comfortable workplace, and your boss will likely want to retain you and your co-workers and won't accept any bad treatment. Solving any issues may lead to better mental health while at work.
Change is never easy, and things can get scary if you’re the catalyst. However, if you advocate for mental health in your workplace, people may start to take it seriously. The CDC’s National Health Interview survey found that only 20.3% of adults sought mental health help from 2019 to 2020. Workplaces that validate its importance may push you and others to seek treatment.
Encouragement from your workplace can make you and your co-workers feel more comfortable discussing and seeking help for mental health issues. You might also want to stick around since you feel valued. It might take some effort, but you can change the environment you work in for the better.
