5 Mental Health Dangers at Work That Go Beyond Personal Injury
Personal injury is a very real danger in many workplaces, but it’s not just the physical injury that can change your life forever. Pain and suffering include mental pain and suffering. It can be a side effect of a physical injury, and it “can affect the victim as much as physical injuries.”
Just don’t make the mistake of thinking that pain and suffering can only result from physical injuries. You don’t have to injure yourself physically to sustain mental injuries in the workplace.
The question is, what kind of mental dangers should you be on the lookout for when you’re at work?
#1 Burnout
Employee burnout is a very real problem. It goes beyond stress, which is normal with nearly any job. Instead, it makes you feel dread on Sunday night, you can’t muster the right motivation to get your work done, and you can’t find the silver lining in any part of your day.
There are many things that can lead to burnout at work. Knowing what they are can help you keep them in check, and it can help you make changes when needed. Look out for things like:
- Too many projects, or projects that are outside your capabilities
- A high-stress work environment with no time to take any breaks
- Big consequences if you fail
- Lack of personal control over your day
- Lack of recognition for personal achievements
#2 Conflicts With Members of Your Team
You probably don’t have a lot of control over who you work with. HR and management hire the people who are working with you, so it should come as no surprise that you probably aren’t going to get along with all of them.
The trouble is, prolonged conflict with people you spend a third of your day with can lead to mental health issues. It’s important to address conflicts as soon as you can.
If you feel comfortable, meet with the other person face-to-face to discuss the problem. If you don’t want to face your coworker alone, ask a manager or a member of the HR department to help facilitate the conversation.
Conflict can occur in multiple ways, and is likely to strike when you’re stuck between choices, feeling unsure and stressed. Decisional Conflict is common among employees but can be eased with the understanding of how to cope with it.
You should encourage employees to gather all the information they need to make the choice, and also give them the support to deal with their feelings. Doing this properly is the first step to combating conflict.
No matter what the problem is, you should avoid trying to solve it through email or messaging. You’re more likely to come to a resolution if you interact face-to-face.
#3 Ineffective Communication
Communication is vital in the workplace. There are many levels of management and workers who all have to communicate with each other in order to make the business run smoothly. Positive communication strategies ensure you don’t dread coming to work.
Unfortunately, many workplaces have less-than-effective communication strategies. A few signs you need to do something about the communication in your workplace include:
- Team members use passive-aggressive communication strategies.
- Intimidation is the norm from bosses and management.
- Members of the team don’t own their mistakes and blame others instead.
- Management doesn’t listen or use feedback to make important changes.
#4 Job Insecurity
Job insecurity is more the norm today than it has ever been before. No longer do employees get hired in their early 20s and stay with the same company for decades until retirement. The COVID-19 pandemic has added new layers to job insecurity that affect nearly every one of us.
This is very serious because studies are showing that job insecurity is actually worse for your mental health than unemployment. If you feel that you are in need of some support for your mental health, get started with BetterHelp today and get the help you deserve.
Doing your best at work every day can make you feel better about the security of your job, as can continuing to keep your eye open for other opportunities. Keep your resume up-to-date and network with others in the industries you want to work in. That way, if you do lose your job, you can feel confident knowing that your job hunt will be much easier.
#5 Harassment
Harassment in the workplace is the most commonly known mental health danger at work, but that doesn’t mean it’s always clear. There are many different types of harassment that go beyond overt sexual or physical harassment.
Harassment can also include dealing with coworkers who like to tell offensive jokes or show you offensive pictures, as well as supervisors who regularly attempt to intimidate or ridicule you. In many cases, the kind of behavior that makes you think a supervisor or coworker is a jerk can be considered a form of harassment.
You should look out for physical dangers in the workplace, but you should also keep your eye on mental health dangers too. Caring for your mental health will ensure you feel cool, confident, and empowered every day you go into work.
