There’s no denying that in 2023, [mental health at work](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/mental-health-and-culture) is gaining traction as a focal point of [workplace culture](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/workplace-mental-health-culture/mental-health-in-the-workplace). 

But unfortunately due to [persistent mental health stigma](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/mental-health-at-work) and the challenges in talking about it, it’s still often overlooked by management. 

However,  it’s become clear that mental health is just as important as physical health. 
Managers may shy away from tackling mental health at work head-on. But if you’re a leader or manager in a workplace, you’re one of the key players in transforming workplace culture. 

Managers play a vital role in [creating a culture of support for employees](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/work-life-balance-for-employees). A positive environment where workers feel empowered to open up, ask for help, and seek [clinical mental health services](https://www.joinkaya.com/for-clinicians). 

This article provides managers with the information they need about mental health at work. 

It also includes useful tips on how to create a culture of support, prevent discrimination at work, and [spot mental health concerns among employees](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/what-is-mental-fitness).

## The Connection Between Work and Mental Health

As humans in this busy, demanding world, we’ve gotten quite good at task-switching between a multitude of activities. 

We get into work mode in the morning, then think we leave our stresses at the door when we come home, believing we’re proficient at compartmentalizing our emotions. 

But the truth is, our mental health in our personal life incidentally bleeds into our work life, and vice versa. 

If we’re really struggling with our well-being in the workplace, it’s going to impact all other areas. 

Work makes up a major portion of our lives. What’s more, the WHO estimates that 60% of the world population is in work. So workplace mental health is not just a national issue, but a human issue. 

Our jobs have the power to provide us with meaning, purpose, connection, and a sense of identity. 

But they also have the power to damage our physical health, emotional health, and social health. Read on to learn about common workplace mental health risk factors.

### Workplace Mental Health Risk Factors

Want to know what workplace factors might affect your team’s well-being? Here are some common workplace risk factors that could negatively impact employee mental health at work: 

- Discrimination or prejudice
- [A toxic work environment of violence](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/toxic-work-culture), harassment, bullying 
- A lack of managerial support
- Insufficient resources or equipment to do one’s job properly
- [Work environment or job duties](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/wellness-programs-at-work) that pose a threat to physical safety
- Lack of proper guidance and training on effectively performing one’s role
- Inflexible or excessive work hours
- Short staffing
- Job insecurity, cutbacks, threat of layoffs
- Extended remote work that contributes to feelings of isolation
- Excessive workload or unreasonable expectations from management 
- Poor communication between teams or from upper management 
- Underutilization of worker skills  
- Toxic organizational culture that supports negative behavior
- Inadequate pay, lack of incentive for hard work
- Conflicting work and personal demands

The presence of any one of these risk factors in the workplace can become an obstacle for strong mental health at work. And many of these factors are in the hands of managers to maintain or correct.

## Why Managers Should Care About Mental Health At Work

We’ve established the link between the workplace and mental health. Now let’s discuss why this matters from a company and managerial perspective. 

Poor workplace mental health contributes to:

Absenteeism and burnout 
High employee turnover
Discrimination & toxic work environments
Loss of company time and money
Decreased productivity
Increased instances of violence
Isolation & loneliness
Worsening of preexisting mental health conditions 
Poor communication among teams/departments
Increased company health care costs

If your workplace fosters a toxic, unhealthy culture, employee mental health will suffer. And on the flip side, if your employees are struggling with their mental health, your company will be poorly impacted. 
 
Low productivity, turnover, and absenteeism should be particularly concerning for employers and managers. These may be a reflection of [serious mental health issues, like burnout, anxiety, and depression](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/anxiety-in-the-workplace). 

## Spotting Mental Health Concern At Work: Employee Signs & Symptoms

As a manager or employer, it’s important to be aware of what mental health conditions are common at work. 

That way, you can either spot these issues, or know what’s going on behind the scenes. Many of your employees will be afraid to divulge their private mental health struggles. 

This is why it’s so important to foster a general culture of mental health support. Here are some tell-tale signs of mental health concerns at work for employees.

### 1. Physical aches and pains.
Dealing with unexpected physical pains? This may be a sign of chronic stress impacting your body.

### 2. Avoidance of hard conversations.
If an employee is struggling with general anxiety or social anxiety, you may notice that they go to great lengths to avoid confrontational situations, or challenging conversations about work performance.

### 3. Noticeable shifts in mood.
If a normally even-keeled employee is suddenly dealing with rapid mood swings, this is a sign of a mental health struggle. Most concerning mood shifts are sudden anger, feelings of hopelessness, or being jittery and on-edge.

### 4. Trouble concentrating or thinking clearly.
Brain fog, an inability to focus, and constantly shifting attention may be a mental health concern. 

#### Declining work performance and efficacy.
If an employee is demonstrating consistently declining work performance, this could be a symptom of mental health issues. 

#### Increased fear, nervousness, sensitivity, or odd behaviors.
Is your employee’s regular behavioral pattern shifting? Maybe they always spoke with confidence, but now seem jittery and withdrawn. This can be a sign of a mental health concern.

## Common Mental Health Conditions That Affect Work
Managers should pay attention to these three big mental health disorders. They each can directly impact company metrics, success, and workplace culture.
## Chronic Stress
Chronic stress is defined as a persistent feeling of being pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time. 

This mental health condition is more pervasive than ever. In fact, 94% of US workers reported experiencing chronic stress at work in 2022. 

And a whopping 63% of these employees said they felt ready to quit their job just to avoid work stress.

Symptoms might manifest in the following ways: 


- Aches and pains
- Increased dependency on alcohol, drugs, or other substances
- Change in appetite
- Cloudy thinking, brain fog
- Withdrawing emotionally from others 
- Poor sleep or fatigue

## Depression & Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are very common mental health disorders. Far too common, in fact. In the past few years alone, mental health disorders like anxiety and depression have skyrocketed 25%. 

Anxiety and depression can occur for many reasons, both personal and work-related. Untenable workloads or social phobias can induce anxiety. And mental health discrimination at work can cause depression.

### Examples of Mental Health Discrimination at Work

Mental health discrimination is something to watch out for as a manager. This is when someone is clearly treated less favorably than others solely due to their mental health disorder. 

An example of mental health discrimination would be if a supervisor refused to promote an individual with bipolar disorder, but promoted another worker with the same exact qualifications.

## Burnout

Work-related burnout is such a pervasive issue that it’s now classified as an official mental health disorder. 

Burnout is defined by three primary dimensions: 

Mental distance from one’s job, or feeling negative or cynical towards one’s role
Reduced professional efficacy and productivity
Feeling depleted of energy or exhausted

If productivity seems low among your teams, you may be dealing with overworked, burnt-out employees.

## How to Create a Culture of Support for Employee Mental Health

With rising rates of mental illness, it’s more important than ever to care for employee well-being. 

Let’s discuss some expert tools and tips managers and employers can use to create a culture of support for employees. 

### Offer Employees Clinical Mental Health Support

One of the most impactful things you can do for company culture is provide mental health services. 

Many companies offer Employee Assistance Programs that offer flimsy or no clinical mental health support. 

But with high rates of mental disorders, it’s crucial to offer employees this type of resource. 
Roughly 80% of today’s US workforce reports seeking out employers who prioritize mental health.

Consider offering your team a therapy service or group mental health platform like Kaya. This step has the potential to skyrocket job satisfaction and employee retention.

Want to Learn About Kaya Mental Health Support for Employees? Request a Demo Here

### Provide Employees with Flexibility & Agency

Offering employees some flexibility and agency over their schedule and role can go a long way in providing that key work-life balance. 

We know that when workers are overwhelmed with untenable workloads or excessive long hours, mental health conditions like burnout can quickly develop.

In addition, micromanaging employees and not trusting them with agency over their own projects and decisions is detrimental to employee retention. 

If workers do not feel valued for their skills or encouraged to innovate, they may seek another employer who will support their mental health at work.

### Foster Company-Wide Connection & Communication

Community and human connection is a key ingredient in Kaya’s recipe for a powerful workplace mental health culture. 

Without human connection and community, we can easily experience isolation and loneliness. And the science is very clear on the detrimental impacts of loneliness. Some of the outcomes of loneliness can include: 

[Depression](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/dealing-with-work-stress)
Compromised immune system
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Increased risk of all-cause mortality

When employees feel connected to one another on a deeper level, innovation, creativity, trust, and empowerment are cultivated. 

Offer physical spaces of collaboration, company workshops, or fun team outings to improve personal connections at work. 

Want strategies for creating a powerful workplace culture? Check out our 2022-2023 Ultimate Guide to Workplace Mental Health 

### Allow Opportunities for Growth & Contribution

People are either progressing in their careers, or falling behind. Are your employees feeling stuck, uninspired, and useless? 

If so, they are far more likely to be mentally and physically absent at work. They are also more likely to be less productive and quit sooner. 

This is not good for creating positive mental health at work.

Provide your teams opportunities to enrich their work with meaningful projects, deepen their professional knowledge, or develop their career skills. 

Offer tuition reimbursement to encourage further education, or provide resources for additional certifications.  

## Final Thoughts

There you have it, our article covering what managers need to know about creating a culture of support. 

Looking for a solution of mental health support for your workplace? Consider [Kaya](https://www.joinkaya.com/home) Care, a flexible, affordable virtual mental health services platform. 

[Kaya’s team of licensed clinicians](https://www.joinkaya.com/resources) offers [small group sessions for employees](https://www.joinkaya.com/blogs/group-counseling) based on shared experiences. Our expert team has a combined 50 years of professional experience. 

Let’s discuss how we can best support your employees’ well-being. Connect with our team today and schedule a demo. 

Offer Employees Clinical Mental Health Support - [Request A Kaya Demo Today](https://www.joinkaya.com/resources#)!

## FAQs

### What is the mental health at work act?

If you have a mental health disorder, you are protected with confidentiality rights, and may also have the legal right to reasonable accommodations to help you properly perform your job. 

Furthermore, if a mental health condition qualifies as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the employee is covered by certain protections. And the employer now has certain obligations towards this employee.

### How do I Talk to HR About Mental Health?

You don’t have to disclose anything you’re not comfortable with to HR or management. 

But if you’re really struggling with your job duties and need support, don’t feel shameful or burdensome about reaching out to HR. Their job is to help you with positive career outcomes and support you.

To get started, request with HR to speak about something important. Then inform them about what condition you’re struggling with. 

Provide examples of how it affects you at work, and a few ideas for how they might be able to support you. 



Managers play a vital role in creating a culture of support for employees. A positive environment where workers feel empowered to open up, ask for help, and seek clinical mental health services. 

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Mental Health At Work: What Managers Need To Know About Creating A Culture Of Support