Mental Health Stigma And How It Impacts Wall Street
/You arrived to work early so you could get on top of everything before the end of the day.
You spent the morning clearing your inbox. Somehow, you managed to widdle the new mail icon down to almost nothing.
Your coworkers decide to all grab lunch together. You still have a few emails to get to, but you're happy with the progress you've made, so you decide to join them. The lunch was a great distraction, but you're ready to get back to work so you don't fall behind.
When you log back onto your computer, your heart drops to your stomach. somehow, your inbox is now even full than it was before you started your day. On top of that, you have folders spread all across your desk with a note from your boss in red that says "DEADLINE END OF DAY."
Your heartbeat quickens. You can feel beads of sweat forming on your forehead. You feel sick to your stomach. Your eyes can't focus on your computer screen. You're dizzy, stressed, anxious, and on edge.
How can you focus on your work when you're feeling this way? Do any of your other coworkers feel like this?
Let's learn more about the mental health stigma and its impact on Wall Street.
What is Mental Health Stigma?
A stigma is a negative attitude towards someone or something based on a specific characteristic or trait. Some of the most common stigmas are the following:
Culture
Gender
Mental Health
Race
Religion
Sexuality
A mental health stigma is a negative attitude or belief about struggling with mental health, being diagnosed with a mental health disorder, or seeking treatment.
Why is There a Stigma for Mental Health?
Mental health stigma has been going on for years. Here are a few of the most common reasons for the stigma behind mental health:
Cultural beliefs
Generalized beliefs
Lack of awareness
Lack of understanding
Language and labels
Limited education and resources
Misinformation
Stereotypes
While the understanding and acceptance of mental health have improved over the years, there is still work to be done.
The Impact of the Mental Health Stigma
The mental health stigma can impact someone's life in a variety of different ways. Let's dive into some of the different ways that mental health stigma can impact employees and employers.
Worsening Mental Health
If mental health problems are left untreated, the signs and symptoms could worsen. Employees that are struggling with their mental health may have difficulting sleeping, forming relationships, or focusing on their work. Some individuals may seek unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance use and abuse, gambling, or other reckless behaviors.
Avoid Seeking Help
The mental health stigma can cause individuals to avoid seeking the help they need and deserve. Employees will often keep their problems to themselves for fear of getting fired or a bad reputation.
Lack of Support
Since there is a stigma of mental health, individuals may feel like they don't have any support, especially in the workplace. They also may avoid going after opportunities or promotions since they may feel like they'll be discriminated against due to their mental health.
Organizational Issue
There are many issues with having a stigma around mental health for employees, but employers are also at risk. If a company isn't willing to allow their employees to be open about mental health, there may be higher costs associated. There may be an increase in health care costs, disability claims, as well as extra time and resources spent on replacing employees from loss of productivity and high turnover.
Next Steps
There are many benefits to addressing the stigma of mental health in the workplace. For one, mental health conditions are completely treatable. When companies put their employees' needs first, everyone is successful.
If you're interested in learning more about mental health for yourself or your organization, reach out to me today to set up a consultation to learn more about counseling for professionals.