Men’s Mental Health In The Workplace
It's no secret that the state of a person's mental health affects all aspects of their lives. People are placed in environments every day that can alter their mental health. That's just life.
For men, an environment such as the workplace can cause stress affecting their mental health in a negative way.
An article from the Harvard Business Review gives good insight into this aspect of men's life. "Fast-paced industries or high work volumes in combination with low resources (time, budget, autonomy, flexibility, support) are common reasons for poor mental health in both genders. However, precarious employment (low job security; part-time shorter employment contracts) and stagnation in their careers (not getting promoted or making a lower salary than their friends) is a critical predictor of poor mental health in men."
As listed above, many things can play into mental health decline.
The Reality of Mental Health
Mott Macdonald, a company focused on working towards solving some of the world's challenges, shares the experiences of real people to address these challenges. In a recent video, Christopher discusses how his mental health was affected at work.
He was going through a lot outside of work, including experiencing loss and grief in his personal life.
"In a professional environment, I was fine. I was talking normally and smiling and everything else. As soon as I got in my car or got home and shut the door I was a different animal. I didn't talk about it."
After feeling like this for some time, he finally decided to reach out to seek help. "My decision to reach out changed everything. A colleague from work listened. He saw me and guided me toward a GP. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety."
The Power of Vulnerability
"It's ok to be vulnerable and for life not to be exactly how I expected it… I started to realize that by opening up and being very honest about my story and situation, some of my co-workers started opening up back to me. I was able to talk with people who understood how I was feeling and who had gone through the same experiences."
By being honest and opening up Christopher was able to find health and healing. Expressing emotions is easier said than done, but it can be learned.
Find Therapeutic Hobbies
Talk with someone you trust & vocalize your feelings
Give up perfection
Focus on the moment
Be honest about what you are feeling
There are a few ways that can help vulnerability come more naturally.
"There is strength in being raw, open, and affected." (Listen to Christopher's whole story)