What Causes Poor Mental Health at Work?

Poor mental health at work can have distressful consequences for the management and the organisation as it can lead to the degradation of organisational development.

Some of the factors that stimulate poor mental health at work are:

• Heavy workloads.
• Burnouts due to excessive work hours.
• Tight deadlines.

• Unsafe work environment 
• Biases and discrimination.
• Favouritism towards certain employees or group.
• Prolonged period of overwork.
• Job insecurity.
• Non-equilateral work-life balance.
• Lack of work scheduling.
• Bullying and harassment.

• Undervalued handwork.
• Lack of recognition and rewards.
• Lack of supportive peers, management, and other staff members.
• Inadequate training.
• Faulty management.

• Personal dilemmas such as financial constraints, health issues, and more.
• Lack of mental health support, etc.
• It is necessary for HR professionals to address these causes to construct a supporting work environment that values employees.
• Employee-centric organisations having diversified and inclusive employees tend to be positive and attract prospective candidates in the long run.

• References .

• World Health Organization (WHO). (2013). Mental Health: A State of Well-being. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2020). Mental Health Information. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics

• Mental Health Foundation. (2020). What is Mental Health?. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/what-mental-health

• American Psychological Association (APA). (2020). Understanding Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/mental-health

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Mental Health Basics. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm

• Mayo Clinic. (2020). Mental Health: What is Mental Illness?. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/mental-health/faq-20058017

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). (2020). What is Mental Health?. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/What-Is-Mental-Illness

• Psychology Today. (2021). What is Mental Health?. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/mental-health

• American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2020). What is Mental Health?. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-health