Talking about your feelings at work shouldn't be mental.
Posted about 6 years ago by Rob MarkwellThankfully, mental health is something that is at the forefront of everybody's attention. It doesn't feel too long ago that the issue was taboo. The rise in media attention on the topic and popular figures speaking out about their problems has made the issue as important as it should be. However, there is still a lot more to be done in the workplace.
Shockingly, recent studies show that 58% of workers felt that they couldn't talk about their battles with mental health in the workplace. You may have a fantastic collaborative office environment but not everybody wants to talk about how they really feel.
Encouraging them to do so is paramount to a healthy workplace. It doesn't have to be to a director or the management team - it can be your closest colleague or even the cleaner. As long as it is somebody. It's 100% okay to ask for help.
Not everybody wants to tell the world so finding the right time and place can be key to finding success in helping your team. Checking in every now and then can often go a long way, alongside promoting healthy eating and an active lifestyle.
For me, I've found talking about my own struggles with my mental health has improved my relationship with my peers. It was a big thing coming into a job and openly discussing how I'm feeling but having a welcoming environment that I thankfully get to be a part of every day at Pitch meant that speaking out felt as good as it ever did. A snowball effect ensued, with others then talking about how they felt. It filled me with immense pride that I played a part in instigating that. We all have our bad days - we are human but those bad days can be made a little brighter with the influence of your colleagues.
You can find more information on how to approach mental health issues in the workplace here .
Together, you are stronger.