Could your co-worker be struggling in silence? Psychologist Dr. Ravi Gill reveals how you can spot the signs a colleague is struggling with their mental health and discusses how you can help…
With 1 in 4 people (25%) experiencing a mental health problem every year in England1, mental health experts are sharing the not-so-obvious signs that people around you may be struggling.
To coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week on 12-18 May, leading office furniture specialist Furniture At Work has partnered with health psychologist, Dr. Ravi Gill, to help people spot these signs with colleagues, and advice on how they can help.
How to spot the signs a colleague is struggling
Dr. Ravi, who has over 15 years of experience in mental health explained: โIn todayโs fast-paced work environments, mental health challenges often go unnoticed until they become severe, so itโs crucial to understand that distress can manifest in subtle ways.โ
Physical signs
The physical signs someone is struggling can present in ways such as tiredness and a more unkempt appearance.
โPhysical symptoms, like headaches or changes in eating habits, can also be telling.โ shares Dr Ravi. โAlong with looking fatigued, having particularly dark circles or puffy eyes, perhaps indicating they havenโt been sleeping.
They may have a tense body posture and fidget more than usual, bite their nails or tap their fingers. They may also seem constantly tired or have low energy.โ
How they communicate
Dr Ravi observes that: โYour colleagueโs tone might shift, becoming more curt, emotionally flat, or unusually snappy. Emails may lack their usual clarity or contain more errors, whilst they disengage from collaborative conversations or seem distracted during meetingsโ.
โSome workers may become overly apologetic or anxious in their interactions, seeking constant reassurance despite usually being confident.โ
Behavioural changes
โYou might notice they become more withdrawn, avoid meetings, team lunches, or casual conversations.
โThey may seem overwhelmed by tasks they previously managed with ease, procrastinate more, or become unusually disorganised,โ notes Dr Ravi. โThis can appear as missed deadlines or making more mistakes than usual.โ
How to help a colleague in this position
If you suspect a colleague may be struggling, Dr Ravi has suggested seven ways you can help, without showing judgement:
- Check in privately and casually, but make sure to pick a quiet moment. A simple โyou seemed a bit off today, is everything alright?โ can go a long way
- Respect their boundaries โ not everyone wants to open up
- Encourage them to take a break and invite them for a walk, or to grab some lunch
- Can you help lighten their workload or offer to cover a task
- Small acts like grabbing them a coffee can show you care
- If you feel comfortable, you can share your own experiences or some helpful resources
- Encourage them to speak to their manager or a wellbeing representative, while avoiding judgement
โOne of the first steps in overcoming mental health struggles is to accept that there is a struggle.โ Concludes Dr Ravi. โEncouraging honest and open conversations around the topic is beneficial for everyone, and creating an environment where people feel comfortable is necessaryโ.
If you feel like you are struggling, try and talk to someone. For more information on mental health awareness week visit meantalhealth.org
