When it comes to mental health, the workplace is increasingly key — not just because of the amount of time spent at work but also because it can play a pivotal role in getting a co-worker the help they may need sooner.
“Your colleagues are going to be some of the first people that notice that you're having difficulties,” says Dr. Andrew Morgan, General and Forensic Psychiatrist at Cleveland Clinic Canada. “And so, in that respect, the workplace can actually serve as a gateway to getting additional support.”
His comments came during a recent internal employee-wide Scotiabank event to mark World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10. This year’s theme is “Mental Health at Work.”
On average, people spend one third or more of their waking hours at work, said Morgan. Regardless of what kind of job a person has, work can be a source of stress. He also outlined during his presentation how employees can take an active role in helping co-workers during times of struggle.
How to help: Notice. Talk. Act.
Mental health can be a delicate and sensitive issue, and many people may not know how to approach someone.
As a guide, Morgan outlined a framework for mental health in the workplace called “Notice. Talk. Act.” from the American Psychiatric Association.
Notice
The first step is to take an interest in those around you and look out for possible signs. Mental distress can manifest in a lot of different ways. Sometimes it will be obvious, such as a panic attack, where a person may be hyperventilating or sweating. About 70% of people will experience a panic attack at least once in their life, said Morgan. Other times, it may be more subtle, such as being more tired, trembling, or tearful. Or, perhaps they are more irritable or missing a lot of work.
“None of these possible changes I talked about are definite signs that your colleague has a mental health problem,” he added. “Many of these are things that all of us will go through from time to time. But the key is being aware of them and taking an interest in your colleagues.”
Talk
The second step is to talk to the person. That means inviting them to a private space and explaining what you’ve noticed and what your concern is. “You’re only commenting on what you’ve seen,” said Morgan. “You’re not relaying gossip that happened elsewhere, you’re not making assumptions about what’s going on. Your role is just creating a space where the person can talk and you’re there to listen.”
This isn’t something that should be done off the cuff; it is important to prepare. That means going to a private location and making sure to have the conversation without any time pressure. When having that conversation, the person may not want to say much. It’s important not to pry, said Morgan.
“You want to respect your colleague’s boundaries and even though the person may not actually say this at the time… this type of thoughtful contact can make a really big difference for people.”
The outreach and demonstration of compassion can prompt people to seek additional support, he added. Or the person may open up and share their experience and emotions. “It really is a sign that they're feeling safe, that you've put them at ease and that you're open to them. The critical thing is then to respect your colleague by keeping that information confidential.”
Unless there are specific concerns about suicide or self harm, it’s paramount to respect that colleague’s privacy.
Act
Once you’ve had a chance to talk, it’s important to take action. If it’s a brief conversation, where the person reassures you that they are OK, one option is to ask their permission to check in on them in a few weeks. “They may say no, and that’s OK. But often having that check-in can really mean a lot.”
If you commit to checking in, make sure to follow through. Put a reminder in your calendar and reach out to them again as promised. “That additional action can be very helpful,” Morgan said. Another action could be directing them to occupational health, an employee-assistance program or a mental health support line.
“The more people that there are in our communities broadly, and this certainly includes the workplace, willing to notice and to talk about mental health, the more likely it is that people experiencing mental health challenges will get connected to treatment,” said Morgan.
