Struggling with mental health at work can be a very difficult situation for many people, whether you are an executive or on a lower level. All of these have captured the attention of organizations, which want to ensure that the well-being of their employees is closely monitored.

Employers often find it difficult to determine when their employees are dealing with their mental health at work. Truth be told, no one feels comfortable talking about their mental health unless such awareness is raised within an organization. The stigma around this topic is still very high.

Employees and colleagues alike need to know the common signs of a coworker’s mental health issues and think of ways to best assist them. In this article, we discuss some of the signs of mental health issues your employee or coworker might be experiencing so you can notice them in time.

Signs of Mental Health Issues at Work

Mental health at work could be negatively affected and could become more severe if nothing is done to help the situation. For this reason, colleagues and employers should always check up on one another and note any significant changes. Here are some signs that your coworker might be dealing with their mental health at work:

Constantly Absent

One of the signs of a breakdown in an employee’s mental health at work is when they stay off work for a long time. It could happen consistently. They could keep asking for time off from work every week, and on some days, show up very late. This is a very common sign of a mental health problem. They prefer to detach from those around them and therefore ask for those breaks from work.

Serious Shift in their Appearance

Another sign that a coworker is dealing with their mental health at work is in their physical appearance. When you know that your colleague always looks good and dresses appropriately, it’s easy to know when something is off with them. They might come to work looking unkempt, with their hair not properly dressed, and so on. People suffering from mental health issues are hardly concerned about how they look.

More Aggressive

One of the signs of mental health issues at work is when an employee becomes overly aggressive and rude towards others. They might get angry at even the slightest things and then resolve to sadness throughout the day. There’s a level to which a person can get annoyed at work, but once you notice consistent angry behavior in your coworker, they might be struggling with their health.

Lack of Concentration

Employees who are dealing with their mental health at work find it difficult to focus on anything. Their minds are clouded with so many thoughts that they are unable to be as productive as possible. You might notice them switching from one task to another without completing any. And many times, they can’t explain why they are inactive at work.

Always Worrying

Another sign of your coworker’s mental health issues could be their constant worrying. They might always feel uneasy and anxious in even the slightest situations and think negatively about them. They might also complain about unnecessary things. You should pay attention to this sign when you know your coworker to be a positive type.

Uncommon Behaviors

Your coworker might resolve to do things that they wouldn’t normally do. They might not go for lunch, spend time discussing with other colleagues, and might remove themselves from any social gatherings altogether. They could start exhibiting other unlikely behaviors like an increased addiction to drugs, alcohol, and many more.

What can you do when you notice a change in your coworker’s mental health at work?

Handling your coworker’s mental health issues takes a lot of special care. You have to be careful and genuinely show empathy so you don’t make them feel uncomfortable. However, we will advise that you reach out to your boss or HR manager to let them know the signs you have noticed. They can provide more appropriate steps to take in helping your colleague.

Employees should look out for each other when it comes to maintaining mental health at work. They can easily tell the difference in a person’s behavior since they work more closely together than with those in executive roles.

The post 7 Signs Your Co-worker Is Dealing With Mental Health Issue appeared first on The HR Digest.

Source: New feed