Mental Health & the workplace

I quite often refer to my colleagues as my "work family", so it surprises me that I have heard from a couple of different people over the past week that they work in environments that can only be described as 'cold'. 

For most of us, our workplace is a second home of sorts, purely due to the amount of hours aweek spent there - so it makes sense to ensure you are in the best space possible.

This Friday (10^th October) is World Mental Health Day (Mental Health Awareness week runs 6-12 October).  We have come across a great website called BeyondBlue (its' an Australian site, but let's face it - this issue knows no borders) which is a great resource for dealing with Mental Health in the workplace.

There are many signs that someone you work with might be struggling - here are some things to look out for:

• finding it difficult to concentrate on tasks
• turning up to work late
• finding it difficult to meet reasonable deadlines
• having loss of confidence and/or negative thought patterns
• appearing restless, tense and on edge
• becoming overwhelmed or upset easily
• finding it hard to make decisions

It may be that they have just developed a "bad attitude", are going through a hard time in their personal life, or it could be as simple as being ready for a change in employment.  However, it may be that they have a mental health problem that requires attention, treatment and support.

If you think that someone your workplace needs help, be proactive (without being intrusive).  Open the lines of communication, or talk to your boss about your concerns.