4 Ways to Support a Colleague in Distress
Over the last year, stress and mental health have become notable topics among workplace conversations. Many employees have had to make adjustments to their employment status, daily work routines and external day-to-day life. In the 2021 Mind the Workplace Report by Mental Health America, nearly 83% of respondents felt emotionally drained from their work, and nearly 3 in 5 felt that their employer does not provide a safe environment for employees who live with mental illness.
In the workplace, mental health support often goes beyond just sharing links to resources for therapy and contacting mental health professionals. While these resources can play an important part of a coworker’s journey to seek support, taking other active measures in the workplace to encourage safe and healthy practices can go a long way. Supporting a coworker who is facing challenges with their mental health is about helping them find ways to stay well. This can be done by ensuring that your workplace is an inclusive environment, free from stigma and discrimination.
Here are our best tips for supporting a coworker in distress:
Create a space for them to talk
Begin by talking about general well-being, and let them know that you are available to talk. Remember that everyone has a different experience with mental health, and each problem is different.
Focus on the person, not the problem, and avoid speaking generally. Keep in mind, some people will not be comfortable sharing personal thoughts within a workplace setting, and that is okay, it is always a personal choice. However, there are ways we can create that space in case they do want to talk.
Here are some examples:
Reaching out to a coworker privately by email or message - this allows them to respond at their own leisure, and if they choose to. Remember to make it clear that they do not have to respond to your check-in, as they may prefer to process distress on their own. For more specific ways to reach out one-to-one to colleagues (especially as a leader or manager) see our post on how to talk with your team about difficult news and current events.
Holding a broader team conversation around stress and mental health by inviting a specialized speaker or creating a specific avenue for conversation - for instance, creating a private “mental health” Slack channel. This can create the foundation for instating a team-wide understanding that mental health conversations are normal and encouraged in your workplace. Both employers and employees can take initiative in starting these conversation spaces.
A key part of creating an effective space for conversations is establishing employee mental health as an organizational priority. Building an organizational focus on mental health requires broader, more long-term changes that integrate employee wellness into day-to-day functioning. Overall, an inclusive workplace culture that supports mental health gives employees autonomy and resources, values a work-life balance, and establishes effective mental health policies.
Speak with us to see how Crescendo Moments can equip your organization with broader mental health awareness and help foster a supportive workplace environment.
Avoid making assumptions
While noticing that a coworker does not seem like their usual self can in some cases, help to connect them with the resources they need, be aware that everyone expresses themselves and their mental health differently. Understanding that there is diversity in the ways that people deal with distress and difficult situations is one way you can support your colleagues. Just because someone may appear to be in high spirits or energetic at work doesn't mean they may not need support with their mental health. Instead of making assumptions about who needs support, focus on creating an open and welcoming dialogue that lets people know that you are available if anyone else needs support.
“Everyone is different in terms of how their condition shows up. My anxiety is different from another person’s anxiety. You can’t assume you understand what they’re going through or the extent to which it’s affecting their work.”
Respect confidentiality
Mental health can be a very sensitive matter for someone. Be sure to maintain privacy and don't share information that someone has given to you. This breach of trust can cause harm and can damage the safe space you are trying to create. In the event that a colleague shares the impact of a distressing event in their life with you, reassure them that you will maintain confidentiality and avoid changing the discussion to center on yourself.
Active listening
It can be tough to hear difficult or upsetting things when someone is sharing about their mental health. Try to stay calm and reassuring. Showing surprise or shock can add to the stress they are already facing. Also try not to immediately think about solutions to help someone struggling with mental health. Sometimes people just need an open ear to listen.
Note: If a colleague wants to vent or explain a situation that is triggering or harmful to your own mental health, it’s okay to politely direct them to another resource or individual that you feel would be more qualified to help.
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Most professionals spend a majority of daytime hours at work, so it’s no surprise that our work relationships can impact our overall well-being. By using these four strategies, you can make a big difference to those you work with. Sometimes a little care goes a long way.