Workplace stress in India is now becoming seriously alarming. As per the latest survey, nearly 43 percent of employees have to suffer from some kind of mental health problems, ranging from anxiety, depression, and burnout
Sajida A Zubair
THE theme “Mental Health at Work”, adopted by the World Health Organisation for this year’s World Mental Health Day (October 10), is an urgent call to initiate a global conversation on workplace mental well-being. And that is just about the right time, given India’s current jolts in the wake of recent cases of death of two employees due to work-induced stress. These incidents have raised an alarm for serious introspection and policy changes to handle the emergent mental health crisis in professional setups.
Such incidents are proof of the human toll of neglecting mental health at work. Companies push for increased productivity and output without being aware of these confines in their workforce and the importance of keeping mental well-being intact for long-term performance. The deaths also emphasise the point that companies need to swiftly reassess their inner culture, workloads, and support systems so that no employee is pitted at the edge.
Workplace pressure comes in the form of stiff competition, tight deadlines, long hours at work, and the constant need to be productive. Technical know-how streamlined processes and time schedules so that more could be done in a shorter period. However, this has blurred lines between work and life outside of work, which limits how well an individual can distance himself/herself from work. This constant state of “being on” has resulted in burnout, stress, anxiety, and depression, which have now become a common phenomenon in the majority of workplaces not only in India but the world at large. Workplace stress in India is now becoming seriously alarming. As per the latest survey, nearly 43 percent of employees have to suffer from some kind of mental health problems, ranging from anxiety, depression, and burnout.
Many employees are forced to work late hours or attend work on weekends with little chance of turning off and recharging. This makes it take a big toll on their mental fitness. Many employees have complained of working in environments that foster bullying, micromanaging, and unrealistic expectations. Such cultures are poisonous, thus destroying the morale of the employees and yielding a high mental distress level.
The increasing rates of mental health issues at the workplace do not only arise because the Indian work culture is marked by long working hours and heavy workloads. Many of the workers must work much beyond the eight hours of an ordinary working day. This often exposes them to chronic fatigue and stress, as well as a culture of burnout. Presently, in the highly competitive job market, employees often have the pressure of outperforming their colleagues to stay at the company or to promote themselves. The fear of losing the job at any moment, primarily due to the uncertainty of the economy, also heightens anxiety and stress. The lines between work and personal space become very fuzzy, especially now that most of the employees work remotely.
Economically, the absence of mental well-being at work is almost astronomical. According to WHO, it is estimated that $1 trillion is lost worldwide because of lost productivity due to depression and anxiety. In India, where workplace stress is an epidemic, these losses are enormous. Moreover, the human cost remains immeasurable: burnout, emotional exhaustion, poor relations, and even a loss of life.
The theme ‘Mental Health at Work,’ is a call to action to make the workplace an open forum to discuss mental health and seek help, both by creating an environment where mental health is highly valued and employees are supported and prioritised during such crisis in the organisation.” Mental health at work is not just about lessening work stress but rather a healthy ecosystem in which workers feel safe, valued, and heard. Employers, employees, and even policymakers must recognise that mental health does not differ from physical health. So that early signs of stress and burnout can prevent other more serious mental health disorders.
Mental health is still very much a stigma-ridden topic in most workplaces. A majority of employees do not want to talk about their mental health issues for fear of being judged or sidelined. The management at workplaces needs to take a more open attitude toward mental health concerns and that the employees feel free to talk about their challenges without any form of discrimination.
It must also be encouraged that mental health support structures in institutions, such as assistance programmes for employees, counseling services, and mental health training for managers are organised at regular intervals. The management must make sure that the employees get whatever help they may need before stress leads to serious mental health diseases.
There must be a company, employee and policy effort toward the present workplace mental health crisis. Companies have to cultivate an environment where the air is open and valued discourse regarding mental health. Workers should feel safe discussing their struggles, and companies must have policies that make mental well-being more important than relentless productivity. The managers are the first representatives of detection in cases of early signs of mental health decline across the teams. Mental health training becomes a quality of their competency that enables them to identify what kind of stress or anxiety or even burnout they have and who can support them appropriately.
Work-life balance should be enhanced through flexible working hours, reducing unnecessary overtime. Taking breaks, vacations, or time off should be encouraged as much as possible, which will reduce the level of stress. What’s also needed is a confidential system that could avail counseling and support services. A mental health professional in the workplace will serve as an excellent refuge for many employees to pour out their worries. For instance; the government should include workplace mental health in its overall mental health agenda. Rewards to firms that adopt mental health programmes, besides mandatory mental health policies, will force businesses to take the issue seriously.
Mental health at the workplace is no longer something on the side; it has become a matter of central importance both for the well-being of employees and for long-term business success. With the WHO theme of “Mental Health at Work” for 2024, the focus will be on designing workplaces which prioritise mental well-being over just productivity. As the discussion about workplace mental health continues to increase, it is time for companies to move on the actions, it’s not just about safeguarding employees’ well-being but about creating sustainable thriving workplaces for the future.
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Sajida A Zubair is a dedicated educator, mental well-being counselor, faculty member at IPERC, and scriptwriter. She brings her passion for nurturing minds and fostering emotional resilience through her diverse roles.
