How to spot signs of mental ill-health in the work-place
The COVID-19 pandemic has made looking after the physical wellness of workers a top priority now we are balancing working at home and the office. It is important to ensure that their mental health is also being looked after too.
During the first lockdown in 2020, some of the Prescient Group took the time out to undertake ‘Mental Health First Aid’ and have become qualified Mental Health First Aiders, in order to support our team along with our clients and colleagues.
We hope this guide will support you spot the warning signs and suggestions on how to support you team:
Changes to an employee’s working habits, output and productivity
This may well be the first thing you notice. A sudden drop off in the quality or quantity of a colleague’s work is always going to be something you will be looking out for, and is likely to be something you are able to measure using concrete metrics.
For example, you may notice a sudden increase in the number of mistakes made by a staff member, or a decline in the amount of work they are able to complete. You may also see a colleague who was previously punctual become more and more tardy, or having to work longer hours to complete their allocated tasks.
When this happens, it is vital not to immediately assume this is simply a matter of incompetence or lack of discipline. By speaking to the worker, you will be able to get to the bottom of what is preventing them from reaching their usual standards.
Changes in physical appearance, grooming and body language
Although most modern businesses are less controlling about how staff wish to present themselves aesthetically than was once the case, it is still important to pay attention to the physical appearance of your workers to get a measure of their attitude and mental outlook.
If a colleague is struggling with mental health issues, this is often reflected by changes in their appearance and demeanour. They may start showing up for work looking unkempt and ungroomed, or appearing tired and lethargic; you may also see changes in their body language, becoming more withdrawn, fidgety or distracted. When this is the case, it could be a sign that the person is struggling to cope with something.
Increased absenteeism
Staff should always be encouraged to make full use of their holiday time and to take time away from work when it is necessary for their health. However, at the same time, a sudden change in a person’s approach to absences from work can be an indicator of their mental health.
If an employee suddenly starts taking multiple days of annual leave or sickness absence in close succession without any clear explanation, it may be worth finding out whether they are having any difficulties. There may be a more mundane explanation for their change in behaviour, but it is better to find out for sure than to leave a colleague in need without essential support.
Mood swings and signs increased stress and anxiety
When you have worked with a colleague for some time, you will be able form a reliable picture of their personality and typical behaviour. As such, those closest to them will be well-placed to notice any signs that they are experiencing emotional stress and instability.
This may manifest through emotionally volatile behaviour, with extreme mood swings between frantic highs and depressive lows.
They may also suddenly become prone to emotional outbursts and short tempers, or appear to be constantly under stress, reacting to everyday pressure with an increased level of worry and anxiety.
Of course, it is natural for most people to experience the occasional good or bad day, or be prone to an uncharacteristic spike in stress from time to time, but when this becomes a pattern, it may be time to take action.
What should you do next?
If you have observed any of these signs of mental ill-health in any of your employees, it is important to think about what you ought to do next. Because every person is different, this also means that there is no one-size-fits-all solution or approach that will be effective in 100% of cases.
As such, the best step to take is to create opportunities for anyone struggling with mental health issues to speak to a superior, or a designated mental health champion within the team. This should never be mandatory, but you should do all you can to make it clear to those affected that they can arrange a private, confidential conversation about what is troubling them at any time.
If you are dealing with an employee who is having difficulties with their mental health, you should make it clear that you are there to support them, and that they can speak freely about anything they are experiencing in or outside of work that is making it difficult to do their job.
If they choose to confide in you, you can then listen to their problems with a compassionate, constructive approach, and determine what kind of special support measures you might be able to offer to make their lives easier.
If you feel uncomfortable, have no on hand support or are unable handle a situation we always advised to gain professional help. There are lots of external advice lines you can access for external support:
www.nhs.uk OR call 111 or 999 in emergency situations
www.smaritans.org – to talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123
If you’re experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day).
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