By Oliver Lyngdoh
Before we dive into the topic of mental health, I want to clarify that I don’t have a medical background or expertise in the field. My aim in this piece is to shed light on the challenges, roles, and untold stories of people in the workplace that may have impacted their lives, both physically and emotionally.
World Mental Health Day, observed globally on October 10, focuses on mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma. This year’s theme, “Mental Health at Work,” highlights the crucial link between mental well-being and the workplace. Throughout nearly a decade of working across various sectors—multinational companies, government departments, and consultancy projects—I’ve encountered stories worth sharing to shed light on the challenges people face in their workplaces.
I’d like to start by sharing a story of a project I was working on a while back. It was a high-stakes project with a team of five, where we pushed ourselves to the limit, working 10–12-hour days for two weeks to meet deadlines. Our team lead, who also had to report daily to our US-based director, worked even longer hours. Despite the immense pressure, she remained professional and positive. When the project was successfully delivered, the director took all the credit, and none of us, including our lead, spoke up—fearful it would be seen as a weakness or jeopardize our job security. The intense demands had become an accepted part of our “9-5” roles.
This story isn’t unique to me or to any of the working-class readers out there, for it’s a reflection of a larger issue in our workplaces. A study by the World Health Organization reveals that an estimated 15% of working adults suffer from a mental disorder, yet mental health remains one of the most overlooked aspects of employee well-being.
A 2022 survey by the American Psychological Association found that 79% of employees reported experiencing work-related stress, and almost half of them said they experienced emotional exhaustion. Such statistics show how widespread this problem is, but more importantly, they highlight the urgent need to address it.
In another high-profile consultancy project, a colleague and I handled the entire project proposal, crucial for our promotions, without any help from the rest of the team. The proposal was accepted, bringing in significant revenue, but our credit-taking colleagues were celebrated. We weren’t seeking accolades, but when promotion time came, we were overlooked, while those colleagues were promoted. When we confronted our manager, she falsely claimed we hadn’t performed, ignoring our contributions. This left me “burnt out” and “demotivated”, while my colleague resigned, citing the “toxic work environment”. The unfairness and lack of recognition deeply impacted both of us.
Mental health challenges come in many forms—anxiety, depression, workaholism and burnout being the most common. Workplace environments can significantly contribute to or worsen these conditions. Stress from tight deadlines, high workloads, and long hours are often seen as part of the job, but they can lead to serious health issues if not managed effectively.
Work places nowadays want to address this so called “mental health” because it might perhaps be of a fad, a directive from some government, a change of policy, being inclusive and so on so forth, but there are still several barriers to actually address mental health of employees.
Studies, surveys and papers will tell you that the Challenges in Addressing Mental Health that prevent employees from seeking help and organizations from providing the necessary support can be: –
= Stigma and Shame: Many people fear that speaking up about mental health issues could lead to being judged or perceived as less capable. This stigma forces employees to suffer in silence.
= Lack of Resources and Support: Many workplaces still lack effective resources such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), access to counselling, or mental health training.
= Unrealistic Expectations and Work-Life Balance: Unrealistic performance expectations, long hours, and the pressure to always be available lead to burnout and resentment.
= Poor Communication and Management Styles: Managers who lack understanding or empathy may inadvertently contribute to stress and mental health issues.
= Bullying and Harassment: These are unfortunately still prevalent in some workplaces and can severely impact an individual’s mental health.
In my opinion however, and this is not a stab or a say to any of the work places I have been employed in, is that people lack empathy and understanding. Everyone is your family until no one isn’t. Everyone needs employment, whether in blue-collar, daily-wage, or other jobs, to provide for their families and secure the financial rewards that come with working. This is where the ones in power try to use you for every ounce that you are worth because in the end – “Business is Business”.
Recently, cases like the Bajaj Finance employee and the EY employee dying and taking their own lives, due to intense work pressure, and the HDFC bank employee collapsing from overwork, highlight the toll of toxic workplaces. Even in small towns like ours, cases of doctors and health workers succumbing to overwhelming workloads, extreme pressures and toxic work environments, with some tragically resorting to ending their own lives.
And yet we all talk about mental health this and mental health that, without ayone doing anything about it.
The points I highlighted above contribute to these extreme cases of mental health breakdown but the lack of human empathy and understanding coupled with our own fear of losing our means of income is the major cause of emotional stress and drain at the work place, in my opinion. Due to the stigma associated with mental health not just in the work place but as a whole, people do not want to speak up, they put a smile on their faces and push through and all the while have to deal with their inner demons alone.
Another personal incident, I had first-hand experience from is a sad one. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a close friend working for a large company in Delhi was suddenly told to relocate to Mumbai for a project. Still reeling from the first wave, he was anxious about moving, especially after recently being in quarantine as a primary contact. His stress was compounded by his wife’s miscarriage during the quarantine and his own COVID-like symptoms. Despite explaining his concerns, his management refused to listen. This led him into a spiral of depression, worsened by his recent hardships. His symptoms reappeared, and he was hospitalized. Tragically, he passed away due to COVID shortly after, but we believe his mental state contributed to his declining health.
People start careers to support their families and be close to them, but often get consumed by work due to job demands, external pressures, or ambition. In the process, we forget to live and lose sight of the fact that we don’t live to work.
Some people put a smile on their faces and try to push through.
Some turn to a bottle or a syringe or other forms of addiction.
Some look for short lived pleasures just for that drop of dopamine to enable them to escape their reality. While some, and it’s sad to say this, some, take extreme measures.
So, what can we do to break down these barriers and create a supportive work environment?
Personally, over my decade long career, I have, started in my own capacity to try to drive a wedge between work and my personal life. I have also tried, among my peers and juniors, to encourage open conversations about the culture of work and the effect it has on them, in order to normalise people speaking out if they feel mentally drained or pressured. Sharing personal experiences in a common platform, like this, can help reduce stigma and create a more accepting environment.
A mental health policy alone isn’t enough. Short-term solutions like counselling and activities help, but what’s truly needed is a shift in mindset. We must acknowledge that mental health, though not physical, is real and requires understanding and empathy for our employees. Work is work and we need to, in my opinion, learn to understand that people need their personal “me” time to disassociate with work. Empathy and understanding are key.
In conclusion, I urge ‘you’ to take action.
As employees, prioritize your mental health. Reach out for support when needed and advocate for a healthier work environment. As employers and leaders, recognize the value of mental wellness. We must invest in programs and policies that support mental health and lead by example in creating a culture where well-being is a priority.
Let’s break the silence around mental health and create a workplace where everyone feels supported, valued, and empowered. A healthy workplace is about creating an environment where employees feel heard and supported which will enable to bring their best selves to work.
Let’s be “Humans” first.