The Dos And Don’ts For Discussing Mental Health At Work
More people are realizing the importance of mental health at work these days, but that doesn’t make having that conversation any less stressful, especially with certain stigmas. The thing is, everyone has mental health, and we all experience ups and downs with it, just like with our physical health. But bringing it up at work can be intimidating, especially with stigmas so where do we start? Here are the dos and don’ts we found on Buzzfeed from psychologist Melissa Dorman, who literally wrote the book on the subject, “Yes, You Can Talk About Mental Health At Work (Here’s Why And How To Do It Really Well).”
- Do know your purpose for having a mental health conversation at work. Understanding why you’re sharing like maybe you want to leave early for a regular therapy appointment can help you keep the talk on track.
- Do look for signs that your workplace is open to discussions about mental health. Dorman says green flags include seeing other employees talking about their own mental health and people sharing that they’re in therapy.
- Don’t ignore red flags that your workplace may not be a safe space for these talks. These include people feeling like they need to lie about mental health struggles and people making fun of mental health conditions and stigmas.
- Do make sure you’re ready before starting the conversation. Ask yourself why you want to talk about this at work, who you want to share this with and why, and what you want this person to do with this information.
- Don’t worry you’ll have to share every detail about what you’re dealing with. You don’t need to go into depth about your symptoms or experience. Think of it like when you have the stomach flu and you can just say that without getting into all the gory details.
- Do be clear about your concerns. Dorman explains, “Having a fear of being judged for a mental health disclosure at work is very valid.” She says expressing your concerns, like not wanting the person to see you differently or share your info with others without your consent, can help.
As you know, adults are the only ones struggling in this arena.
According to the CDC, teenagers should sleep between 8–10 hours per 24 hour period. This level of sleep is associated with a number of better physical and mental health outcomes, including a lower risk of obesity and fewer problems with attention and behavior. Despite this, less than a quarter of teens report sleeping at least eight hours per day—a number that has fallen significantly over the last decade
From 2007 to 2013, just under one-third of teens reported getting at least eight hours of sleep per night. In 2015, that number began to fall, and by 2019, only 22.1% of teens were meeting that threshold. One likely contributing factor is a rise in device usage over the same span. In 2007—the same year that the iPhone launched—24.9% of teens were spending more than three hours on their phone or computer on a given day. In 2019, that figure had risen to 46.1%.
This overall trend is leading towards more mental issues towards young adults who are in the most brain-growing stage of their life.