Working in a professional environment not only demands technical ability, but also a lot of mental resilience. Deadline stress, conflicts between colleagues, to excessive expectations from superiors, can trigger stress and mental health disorders if not managed properly.
Unfortunately, many people still think of this as a normal part of the world of work. In fact, mental health that is disturbed can have a serious impact on performance, social relations, and physical conditions.
According to Annisa Axelta, M.Psi., a psychologist from Eka Hospital Bekasi, mental health in the workplace is an emotional, psychological, and social condition of a person in the face of the dynamics of daily work.
“The mental healthy work environment will support employee welfare, reduce burnout risk, and of course increase productivity,” he said in a media discussion in Bekasi, recently.
Annisa explained that some mental disorders could actually be triggered or exacerbated by certain work situations. The following are some types of mental health problems that are common in the workplace:
Stress is the body’s response to excessive or continuous stress. In work, stress can arise due to accumulating workloads, unrealistic targets, or unclear roles.
If it lasts a long time, stress can cause fatigue, difficulty sleeping, digestive disorders, and even physical symptoms such as muscle aches and headaches.
“This stability is one thing that needs to be realized. Understand that we are stressed and the trigger can help in dealing with stress,” said Anissa.
Anxiety in the workplace can be in the form of excessive concern about judgment, fear of making mistakes, or anxiety when interacting socially. In more severe cases, sudden panic attacks can appear.
” Packaging is not just a matter of nervousness. If it appears intensely and interferes with work functions, it needs to be handled professionally,” added Annisa.
Unhealthy work environments such as lack of support from superiors, cold relationships between co-workers, or disproportionate workloads can trigger depression. Symptoms include persistent sadness, loss of motivation, decreased concentration, and excessive fatigue.
Unlike ordinary stress, burnout is extremal fatigue physically, emotionally, and mentally due to chronic work pressure. The hallmark of burnout is a sense of apathy to work, cynicism, and declining performance.
“Burnout is not a weak sign, but a body and mind signal that has been forced to stay under pressure for too long,” explained Annisa.
This disorder can appear suddenly, characterized by a fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, to extraordinary fear for no apparent cause. A stressful workplace such as large presentations, conflicts, or competitive situations can be a major trigger.
Maintaining mental health is as important as maintaining physical health. Ideally, the company begins to build a healthy work culture, is open to two-way communication, and provides access to counseling services or psychologists if needed.
” Mentally healthy employees will work more stable, more loyal, and more productive. It’s time for us to put mental health as a priority in the workplace,” he concluded.
Source – https://voi.id/en/info-sehat/500770