Psycho colleagues!

Do you work with moody + snappy + distracted + unreliable + unengaged people? Chances are, those around you are struggling with unidentified mental health issues, which have been spreading like wildfire. How do you get them performing again? How should you behave around them? We break this down for you here.

No one escapes unscathed

Everyone has stress. We worry about our finances, health, children, the future. Attaining purpose + fulfilment is like catching eels with a spoon.

The WHO reported in 2019 that 1 in 8 people globally have mental disorders. These can range from anxiety to depression to eating disorders. That's 12% of the world, BEFORE we had covid. In 2022, that number shot up by 25%, putting that number to 1 billion people around the world.

Global prevalence of (A) major depressive disorder + (B), adjusted for COVID, 2020

Apart from the fact we now know more about mental disorders, and are better able to diagnose this, there are a number of main reasons for the growing trend:

What the hll is going on?*

+ Social media mania: everyone's on social media and it's great - if you can filter out the bad stuff. Bad news (which get's more traffic) and other people's unsolicited opinions are shoved your way, whether you like it or not. It's also tempting to compare yourself to the fictional lives that people stage online. If you think about it, it's like wondering why you can't squirt webs out of your palms like Spiderman. + Full-time, all the time: WFH is great, and remote connectivity removes the pain of commute + the risks of cross infection. But how disciplined are you at starting + ending your work day at regular times? You lie in, then make up for it after dinner, and before you know it, you've blurred the boundaries of work + play. + I sloth: no, it's not the latest Apple product, it's the fact we all got sluggish during the pandemic. We had less socials, travel less, exercise less, have to deal with kids at home more, and generally eat more poorly because "we had to". It takes mammoth strength to snap out of bad habits. + So much to doom, so little time: with the pandemic behind us, we have other things to fill the void of doom - inflation, energy crisis, geopolitical tensions, recession ... + Slow car crash: An Icelandic scientist once explained climate change to me in very clear + succinct terms - "We're f*cked". We all despair over the climate, risk of nuclear war, a dark, dim future of doom {we advise taking control by taking action).

Change in prevalence of major depressive disorder, adjusted for COVID, 2020

Grim.

Now we know what'swe're dealing with, how do we suss out who has mental health issues? There are a number of tell-tale signs:

I spy with my little eye

Slo-mo: those experiencing mental health issues will suddenly take longer to process day to day tasks. It becomes harder to concentrate and to make decisions.

Oops: excessive worrying + rumination drains brain power from cognitive functions, and we see an increase in minor mistakes, forgetfulness, and poorer analytical skills.

Sick + tired : constant worry + anxiety takes a toll on the body, and those with mental health issues tend to complain of constant fatigue, loss of appetite, and falling ill more regularly. Social gatherings dwindle.

Will bite if provoked: Because of the pressure building up inside, those with mental heal concerns can be emotionally more volatile - like a cat in pain, that lashes out in defence, even if you are trying to help it.

grey console: If you've watched Disney's Inside Out, you'll remember the scene where Riley becomes disengaged + numb to the world, and her mind can no longer conjure emotions. We see many who lose interest in everything, become quiet, and stop interacting with others.

Gloom, Inside Out, Disney.

Pause here, and have a think if anyone around you is behaving like this. Are you experiencing these too?

What to do

Ok, we know what we're dealing with, why it happens, and how to spot it. What do you do, and how do you do this delicately?

DO's

Mind your language: Every body goes through a rough patch, it doesn't make them "crazy" or "psycho" or "nuts" or "mad". Also, telling someone going through mental health issues to "snap out of it"and to "not think about it" simply demonstrates your ignorance.
Let's chat: check in on those around you, and take it outside the workplace - either grab a coffee out or take a stroll. You'll be surprised how quick someone might open up to you once the scenery changes.
The grapevine: things you pick on the grapevine can be invaluable. If you learn that a colleague's sister just died, lead with that to show your concern.
Your army is strong: You have the stats (1 in 8, 1 billion globally), normalise what your colleague is going through, so they know it's common, and they are not alone in this fight.
Actions louder than words: Sometimes, you don't need to say anything. Just a kind deed - a free coffee, an invitation to go cycling - can go miles to make someone feel cared for and noticed.

DON'Ts

You're not the one for me: if you're in a senior role, it may be more difficult for a junior to admit to you that they are struggling, for fear this will be viewed as weakness or incompetence. Make sure they have a good support network that understands what your colleague is going through.
Pull up your socks: If you make the conversation about underperformance, you are sure to get an immediate defensive response. Start with the tell-tale signs that you observed - "you've been very quiet recently" or "I've had trouble getting sleep, has it been difficult for you too?".
Will bite if provoked: Mental disorders are like a dislocated shoulder - caused by extreme unnatural external force. Given how much pressure is building up inside, it's easy for emotions to be volatile - even over the pettiest thing. Be tolerant.
Err...um...ah: This kind of conversation is delicate, and if you don't think you're up to the task, it might be better to refer the colleague to a professional counsellor, trained to deal with sticky situations.

Finally - it's not you ...

Don't be surprised that someone you approach will say "I'm alright". They might not realise what's going on, are in denial, feel shame, or are simply not ready to reach out for help. It's not a reflection of a lack of trust in you, or that you did something wrong. Give it time, and let them know you're there to talk. To maintain professional workplace boundaries, it might be better to suggest they have a chat with a professional counsellor trained to deal with sticky situations.

If you'd like to book in a session, or want to refer a friend or colleague for counselling, feel free to get in touch, or visit our Bookings page.

References:

COVID-19 Mental Disorders Collaborators, "Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic", Lancet 2021: 398: 1700-12, http://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02143-7

"Mental Disorders", World Health Organisation website www.who.int, 8 June 2022.

"World mental health report", World Health Organisation, 16 June 2022.

"Nearly one billion people have a mental disorder: WHO", UN News, United Nations, 17 June 2022.

COLAB+

Psycho colleagues!