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Key points
- The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is about prioritizing mental health at work.
- Cecile Sy compliments a manager who urged her to seek professional help for her psychological problems.
- A warning sign that your mental health may need attention is if you ‘constantly feel overwhelmed or worried,’ says expert.
“Growing up in Asia, there was pressure to excel because of high competition. Like many parents, mine viewed academic success as a path to a good job and financial stability. They didn’t have much growing up and wanted a better life for their children.” Myself and my siblings, so they sent us to Manila for a better education when I was 11,” she said.
There is limited mental health awareness in the community and a culture of face saving.
Cecile Sy
She said she saw more warning signs that her mental health was at risk, including “crying, racing thoughts, chest tightness, not eating or sleeping properly, loss of concentration and self-confidence.”
I went to the toilets at work to cry.
Cecile Sy
“I was in denial for years. My family suggested I pray more, but sometimes spirituality is not enough. Often people wanted to help but didn’t know how, by offering solutions instead of listening.”
‘Feeling flat, stuck or lacking motivation’
Beyond Blue spokesperson and clinical psychologist Dr Luke Martin said workplaces can expose people to ‘excessive stress, unreasonable demands, bullying or discrimination, which can negatively impact our mental health and potentially cause mental illness or can worsen an existing condition. “.
Some specific warning signs to look out for are:
- Constantly feeling overwhelmed or worried
- Not enjoying activities you usually do
- Feeling flat, stuck or lacking motivation
- Having difficulty concentrating or maintaining attention on tasks
- Problems sleeping
- Feeling of irritability or getting angry more quickly
- Withdrawing from social activities or relationships, and
- Feeling empty or without purpose.
He said the best way to approach a colleague who you suspect is struggling with their mental health is to use the “Ask, Listen and Support” strategy.
Beyond Blue’s spokesperson, clinical psychologist Dr. Luke Martin. Credit: Beyond blue
“’Ask’ is about finding a quiet time and private space to open the conversation and ask if you’re okay,” he said.
“’Support’ means helping your colleague explore options for doing what he or she can do about his or her feelings. You can encourage him or her to seek help from the Employee Assistance Program in the workplace, with their GP or with organizations such as Beyond Blue.”
‘Remind yourself why your work is important to you and others’
The ten most important tips from Dr. Martin for protecting mental health at work are:
- Limit working outside regular hours. Disconnect so you don’t check emails or make calls outside of business hours.
- Take regular breaks and move your body.
- It’s okay to say “no” or reprioritize tasks when demands are high.
- Use mindfulness or breathing to manage stress.
- Check your thinking to make sure you are interpreting situations in a balanced and useful way.
- Stay in touch with your colleagues and support each other.
- Be kind to yourself when you make a mistake or when something doesn’t go according to plan.
- Reconnect with why you do this work. Remind yourself why your work is important to you and others.
- Communicate with your manager if work is affecting you.
- Take advantage of mental health support in the workplace.
‘Self-care toolkit’
She recently returned from nearly six months of teaching English in Spain as an immersive way to learn Spanish, an ultimate dream, she said.
Cecile Sy recently fulfilled a lifelong dream: learning Spanish in Spain for almost six months. Credit: Cecile Sy
“Remember, you don’t have to struggle alone or be ashamed to seek help,” she said.
