So, you’ve completed the Naluri Mental Health Assessment. Your risk for depression, anxiety, and stress is low- Congratulations! This may indicate that you’re making progress in your mental health journey. However, this might not be the case for people around you.
But things aren’t as they used to be. One colleague looks extra frazzled and unkempt. Your most dependable teammate has forgotten something, making rookie mistakes and misunderstanding briefs. You even caught the most optimistic person in the office shedding a few tears at their desk. There have been rumours that people are resigning. And your closest friend in the office has been making excuses to avoid coming in.
Could it be depression, anxiety, or stress? Do you address what’s happening? Should you?
1 in 4 people lives with a mental condition like depression, anxiety, and stress every year. Pandemic fatigue, economic uncertainty, loss and grief, isolation, fear, and constant living in flight-or-fight mode have resulted in an upsurge in mental health issues.
Here’s a quick guide on how to manoeuvre this.
1. Don’t Guilt Yourself Into Feeling Bad For Being Okay
Guilt is a powerful emotion that can lead to unhealthy behaviours. Your mental health is just as crucial as your co-workers’. Respect yourself enough to prioritise your self-care. On the flip side, you also shouldn’t guilt them into feeling bad for not being okay.
2. Don’t Try To Label It
The worst you can do is jump to conclusions based on a limited understanding of what may or may not be happening in your colleagues' lives. If your coworker is willing and able to talk about their struggles, try to listen without giving advice. Unless you are a mental health professional, you are not trained to speculate on or diagnose a person’s experiences.
3. Embrace Empathy
Empathy sounds more like, “I’m sorry to see you struggling. I don’t know how to help, but I’m willing to lend you an ear,” and less like, “Life is hard, but it could be worse. Try being more grateful. That’s how I do it.” Empathy is acknowledging someone else’s feelings and experiences without imposing your own.
4. Make The Person Feel Safe
Rather than asking, “Are you depressed?” consider mentioning how you checked in on your mental health with an online assessment. Otherwise, try something like, “We must get this project done. How can we best work together to be on the same page?”
5. Draw Boundaries If You Have To
Being a concerned colleague does not make you an amateur therapist. If someone keeps coming back to you for advice and support, gently remind them that you're not an expert while you’re rooting for them.
Besides talking to your colleagues privately, you can refer them to your company’s employee assistance programme or ask your HR department for help. Fostering a safe environment where people are open to discussing their issues can boost teamwork and understanding. The more you talk openly about mental health and its peaks and valleys, the more you build awareness, break the stigma around it, and encourage those needing help.
This article was brought to you by Naluri’s Mental Health Coaches. Naluri empowers you to develop healthy lifestyle habits, achieve meaningful health outcomes, and be healthier and happier through personalised coaching, structured programmes, self-guided lessons, and health tools and devices. Download the Naluri App today or contact hello@naluri.life for more information on utilising digital health coaching and therapy to become a happier, healthier you.