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Your work can have a significant impact on your mental health. In fact, mental health conditions related to employment stressors are now the fastest growing type of workplace injury.
While meaningful work and well managed workplaces can have a positive effect on your mental health, poorly managed workplaces, excessive workloads, poor employee relationships and customer or client aggression – among other factors – can have a significant negative and long-term impact on your mental health.
Add in widespread use of digital communication technologies reducing your ability to disconnect from work, and your work stress begins to seep into your personal life as well.
It’s a worrying trend, with work related mental health issues rising more than 36% in the past three years. Notably, more than 57% of all workplace mental health conditions were reported by women.
Read the recently released report from Safe Work Australia on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.
Fortunately, there is a growing awareness of the issue with organisations such as Safe Work Australia, Mind Your Head, unions and Government organisations placing a spotlight on prevention of harm and management of workplace mental health.
Know Your Options
The following article provides general information about workplace stressors and taking stress or mental health leave in Australia. For specific information about your work situation, consult your company documents and leave requirements, human resources, a union representative or an employment law professional.
If you’re experiencing severe ongoing stress impacting your long-term health, it’s important to seek help from a health professional such as doctor or psychologist. Untreated stress can cause physical problems and lead to more serious mental health issues.
Our psychologists can provide professional guidance, support and evidence-based interventions to help you manage workplace stress effectively and help you thrive in your professional life. Contact us today to book an appointment.
What is a Mentally Healthy Workplace
A mentally healthy workplace is one where you feel supported, valued and safe, both physically and psychologically.
It’s an environment where there is open communication, trust between colleagues and management, reasonable workloads and opportunities for growth and development.
A mentally healthy workplace also promotes work-life balance and recognises the importance of both productivity and employee well-being.
What Influences Mental Health at Work
Several factors can influence mental health at work.
These can include:
- Clarity and Purpose: A clear understanding of your role and responsibilities within the organisation fosters a sense of direction and purpose, reducing ambiguity and confusion.
- Job Demands: The level of effort required to fulfill job requirements significantly impacts mental health. Excessive workload, unrealistic deadlines and high-pressure situations can lead to stress and burnout.
- Fair Treatment: Feeling valued and treated equitably by supervisors and peers is essential for fostering a positive work environment and maintaining psychological well-being.
- Support Systems: Access to adequate support networks, whether through colleagues, mentors or employee assistance programs, can provide essential resources for coping with workplace challenges and stressors.
- Recognition and Rewards: Being acknowledged and rewarded for your contributions and achievements reinforces a sense of accomplishment and motivation, positively impacting mental health.
- Environmental Factors: Physical aspects of the workplace, such as lighting, noise levels and ergonomic design, can influence mood and concentration, thereby affecting mental well-being.
- Interpersonal Relationships: Positive interactions with colleagues, clients and the public contribute to a supportive and harmonious work environment. Conversely, conflict or tension in relationships can lead to stress and emotional strain.
- Skills and Resources: Having the necessary training, skills and tools to perform job tasks effectively enhances confidence and job satisfaction, buffering against feelings of inadequacy and stress.
- Communication and Change Management: Transparent communication channels and effective change management strategies promote a sense of trust and engagement among employees, reducing uncertainty and anxiety associated with organisational changes.
- Exposure to Trauma: In certain professions, such as emergency services or healthcare, employees may be exposed to traumatic events or distressing information, which can have significant psychological repercussions if not adequately supported.
While at work, your mental health can also be impacted by non-work factors such as other life events.
In Australia, workplaces are required to manage factors that can harm mental health.
Symptoms of Workplace Stress Impacting Mental Health
Recognising the symptoms of workplace stress is important for early intervention and prevention.
Some common signs of stress in the workplace include:
- Physical symptoms: These may be headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, changes in appetite or sleep patterns and gastrointestinal issues.
- Emotional symptoms: Workplace stress can manifest as feelings of anxiety, irritability, mood swings, sadness, heightened emotions, or a loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities.
- Cognitive symptoms: You may have trouble concentrating, making decisions or remembering important details. Your thoughts may race and you may have a negative outlook on work or life in general.
- Behavioural symptoms: These can include changes in work habits, such as procrastination, decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, social withdrawal or conflicts with colleagues.
If left unaddressed, workplace stress can escalate and lead to more serious mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety disorders.
What is Stress Leave or a Mental Health Day
In Australia, stress leave, also known as mental health leave or personal leave, is a type of leave granted to employees who need time off work due to mental health concerns.
The leave is generally covered under the National Employment Standards and allows employees to take time off for their own illness or injury, including mental health conditions, without losing their job or facing adverse consequences.
You may be required to provide a medical certificate from a doctor or psychologist to support your request for stress leave.
Taking stress leave or mental health leave can be a valuable step in prioritising self-care and seeking the support needed to address workplace stressors and mental health concerns.
It provides you with the opportunity to rest, recharge and access appropriate treatment or counselling to help you cope with stress and improve your well-being.
Through promoting a culture of understanding and support around mental health issues, employers can contribute to creating healthier and more productive workplaces for all employees.
Tips For Taking Stress Leave or Mental Health Day
Here are several tips for when you want to take a sick day to look after your mental health.
- Review your company leave requirements. If your company has leave policies read through them to ensure you understand what may be required. In general, all full-time workers in Australia have a right to take 10 personal leave (also known as sick leave) days per year under the National Employment Standards. If you’re under an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, the numbers of days might be higher. Part-time workers also have personal leave days, with the number determined by how many days per week you work.
- Arrange a medical certificate, if needed. If your company requires a medical certificate you may need to speak to a doctor online or in person. Fair Work Australia states that an employee is entitled to paid sick leave when they cannot work due to personal illness or injury including stress. FWA says employers can ask employees to provide evidence for as little as one day or less off work. The evidence can be provided before or after the period of leave has begun. The medical certificate can be as broad as ‘medical condition’ and does not need to specify the reason for absence.
- Don’t feel pressure to work if unwell. Mental health is just as important as physical health and you are entitled to take time off if you are unwell. It is the responsibility of your superiors to manage staffing and good businesses will have strategies to cover staff leave without guilt-tripping.
- Don’t work from home if unwell, aim to recharge and recover. Switch off work notifications on your phone and don’t check emails.
- Do an activity or go to a favourite place that will help you relax and forget about work for the day. Simply going for a walk, or any exercise, can help.
- Talk about what’s stressing you with your support network or book an appointment with a mental health professional for help with long term stress or mental health management.
- When you return to work, consider talking to your human resources department or a work health and safety representative about your concerns.
Get Help When You Need It
Managing workplace stress alone can be challenging and you may feel overwhelmed dealing with long term stressors.
Consider getting help from a psychologist, especially if:
- Your workplace stress is significantly affecting your mental health, well-being, or personal relationships.
- You have tried various strategies to manage stress but have not seen any significant improvement.
- You experience severe symptoms of anxiety or depression, such as persistent sadness, panic attacks or suicidal thoughts.
If you need help, contact us today to book an appointment with our psychologists. We can offer guidance and support to help you manage workplace stress and enhance your professional well-being.