Mental ill health at work

Both what happens in private life and the stresses and strains experienced at work can lead to psychological distress in the workplace. Between one in six and one in ten people in the workplace experience symptoms of anxiety, stress or depression. Anyone can be affected by it during their working life - not only particularly vulnerable people. This creates challenges that can be difficult to manage.

Italicize mental distress so it can be solved

It is useful to create a culture in the workplace where it is okay to talk about difficult topics such as mental well-being. If you have a workplace with an inclusive culture, it creates a better framework for discussing the challenges you have and what bothers you. By addressing the well-being of employees, the workplace shows that it is committed to preventing psychological well-being and at the same time supports employees who are psychologically unhappy. It also avoids the topic becoming taboo and avoids stigmatization.

Managers have a great responsibility to reduce mental well-being

Managers also have an important role to play in reducing psychological distress in the workplace. As a manager, you have a responsibility towards your employees. This means that it is also important to react as a manager if you experience or are informed that someone is unhappy. It is important that the workplace deals with it if employees are unhappy - both because it is important to help each other, because as a workplace you have to take social responsibility and because you have to protect your employees so that you can retain them and their professional expertise.

Reach out if you are experiencing mental distress

If you yourself are experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression or are otherwise unhappy, it is a good idea to inform your manager, your union representative or health and safety representative about it, so that you can work together to find out how you want to deal with it and whether there are any work routines that can be reorganized so that they are adapted to your current working capacity. If you do not feel well enough equipped to deal with the situation, you can always find help from trade unions, occupational health and safety professionals or advisers in, for example, the municipality.