Three quarters of people would hide a mental health issue from their employer

Just 25 percent of people have said they would feel comfortable disclosing a mental health issue to their employer.

According to a poll conducted as part of Her's Mental Health Month, three quarters of people would hide a mental health related problem from the workplace. Contrasting this, 69 percent of people said that they would feel comfortable to a friend about their mental health. Almost 90 percent said that they didn't think Ireland's mental health services were offering adequate support to those in need. A VHi survey from earlier this year pointed to similar findings with half of people saying they felt they had to hide the fact they were stressed at work in order to further their careers. One in five said they had to take time off work over the past year due to anxiety or depression, with women being one of the main groups of people likely to worry about their mental wellbeing in the workplace. Just 16 percent of people surveyed said that they were extremely satisfied with their lives. Professor of psychiatry Brendan Kelly said that the findings proved that workplace stress had only been increasing over the past few years. He said:

"The level of mental health issues identified is concerning and with many respondents stating they believe it will impact their health in the future, it is clearly a growing problem. "While we do acknowledge that the diagnostic thresholds are changing in society it is clear that stress is a serious and growing issue that needs to be urgently addressed.”

VHi's focus group suggested that employee's mental well being needed to be maintained through resilience training. In January, a load of leading experts in health, wellness, and personal development will come together in Dublin to discuss all the things that people in Ireland can do to take their professional lives to the next level - while looking after their mental and physical well being. The Fresh Resolutions event will consider everything from nutrition to training to personal motivations. As well as wellness and mental health in a professional setting. Founded by Jamie White, the event will include talks from The Happy Pear, wellness coach Alison Canavan, hypnotherapist Fiona Brennan, and children's rights campaigner Christina Noble. Jamie, who is also hosting the event, aims to provide attendees with some tools and skills to manage stress at work and to avoid burnout. "I fully believe that Irish professionals take their mental and physical health for granted," he said. "Fresh Resolutions will inform and equip attendees with all they need to make 2019 the year they take their career and life to the next level’." The event will include keynote addresses, workshops, and panel discussions. Fresh Resolutions takes place on January 5 at Dublin Castle. You can find out more about the event here. 

---

November is Mental Health Month on Her, where we'll be talking to you and the experts about some of the common - and the not so common - disorders and conditions affecting women in Ireland today.  You can follow the rest of our Mental Health Month series here.  Want to get in touch? Email me at [email protected].