WORLDWIDE — World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues and mobilizing efforts in support of better mental health.

This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day is mental health in the workplace. 

As the World Health Organization explains, people spend much of their time at work every week, and as a result, "our experience in the workplace is one of the factors determining our overall wellbeing." 

The fact is, problems at home can follow you to work, and vice versa.

According to the World Health Organization: 

  • Work is good for mental health but a negative working environment can lead to physical and mental health problems.
  • Depression and anxiety have a significant economic impact; the estimated cost to the global economy is $1 trillion per year in lost productivity.
  • Harassment and bullying at work are commonly reported problems, and can have a substantial adverse impact on mental health.

So how can you create a healthy space both at work and at home? 

1) Educate yourself about mental health

There are big differences between being depressed and feeling sad, having anxiety and being nervous, or feeling jumpy and suffering from PTSD.

Depression is a disease of the brain. And, the main subcortical limbic brain regions implicated in depression are the amygdala, hippocampus, and the dorsomedial thalamus, according to research by Mayur Pandya, Murat Altinay, Donald A. Malone Jr., and Amit Anand published in Current Psychiatry Reports. “Both structural and functional abnormalities in these areas have been found in depression,” the authors wrote.

Knowing the differences and how to properly address each form of mental illness is the best way to be proactive for yourself and to advocate for others. 

2) Pledge to fight the stigma

Stigma is when someone, or even you yourself, views a person in a negative way just because they have a mental health condition. Some people describe stigma as a feeling of shame or judgement from someone else. Stigma can even come from an internal place, confusing feeling bad with being bad.

Navigating life with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation, blame and secrecy that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support and living well.

The National Alliance on Mental Health’s StigmaFree campaign is an effort to end stigma and create hope for those affected by mental illness. Through powerful words and actions, we can shift the social and systemic barriers for those living with mental health conditions.

3) Be vocal about mental health

You can’t see depression like you see chicken pox or male pattern baldness, therefore, it’s fairly common for people struggling with mental illness to hide it. Many people are afraid to speak out about their depression because there is still a stigma that surrounds it. It’s our job to break the stigma (see suggestion above) for ourselves and for our loved ones that we may not even know that are suffering.

4) Donate to organizations who offer support

There are a ton of great organizations working hard to provide to support to those that are seeking out help for mental illness that may not otherwise be able to afford treatment. Organizations like NAMI, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, Treatment Advocacy Center, The Trevor Project and Mental Health America are just a few doing really great things.

5) Provide support to the ones you’re closest to

Recognize symptoms of depression in the ones closest to you and ask questions: Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual, changes in appetite, withdrawal from social interaction, loss of interest in things that used to be pleasurable, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating or remembering things are all signs/symptoms of depression.

Most new moms experience “baby blues,” but they usually pass a week or two after delivery. If symptoms persist or worsen, it could be postpartum depression. Younger children who are depressed may try to avoid school, complain of feeling ill, or become clingy with parents. And Adolescents may become sulky and defiant if they're experiencing depression. 

Listen. Encourage the individual to get professional help for depression if he or she is resisting. If the individual has already started treatment, make sure the person is keeping doctor appointments and taking his or her medication if prescribed. Finding the right medication fit can be a process and extremely frustrating. 

Though the statistics feel grim and the headlines remind us almost daily of this, remember, resources are available to us.

Many companies offer Employee Assistance Programs, which provide support or benefits to employees with personal and/or work-related issues. And the National Alliance on Mental Health provides a number of ways to seek support, including helplines, programs, and fact sheets.

For more information directly related to mental health in the workplace, see the World Health Organization.