Workplace Mental Health
Hello and welcome back to another edition of the Center Street Psychology blog! This month, we will be doing a series about workplace mental health in honour of World Mental Health Day on October 10. The theme this year is mental health in the workplace. We will be focusing on this topic over the coming weeks and within this blog highlighting bullying in the workplace. Feel free to look back at some other recent blogs about Truth and Reconciliation, suicide, anxiety and more.
A quick intro to World Mental Health Day: this is an annual day to advocate and create awareness for different aspects of mental health within society. It was started by the World Federation for Mental Health, who have been in existence since 1948 with the mission of alleviating stigma and increasing dialogue around mental health. This gives us a good reason to reflect upon and implement the themes celebrated each year into our lives.
When it comes to our experiences in the workplace, there are myths and beliefs about what is acceptable that may not be true. Myth: Bullying primarily happens pre-adulthood at school and people eventually mature enough to learn how to drop high school drama and get along. Fact: Bullying can be experienced at any age and there are many different behaviours that can be considered bullying.
When you think about bullying as kids you think about playground fights and fist fighting and we don’t expect the same behaviours in adulthood and employment. However, more subtle forms of bullying can be common, such as spreading rumours, talking behind a colleague’s back, relational aggression or excluding certain people in social events to intentionally discriminate. Depending on the work environment and culture, we may see more severe behaviours such as name calling or prejudiced comments. A report by the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) states that in a 2021 US study, 30% of participants polled had experienced workplace bullying at some point in their career.
There also seems to be a trend that non-supervisory employees experience bullying more than those in management (WBI, 2021). This highlights how important it is to notice misuse of privilege and power or how an employee’s status in a starting position might make them vulnerable to mistreatment. Studies have shown that workplace bullying can increase the levels of depression, anxiety and stress an employee might experience (Verkuil et al, 2015). Recognizing and doing the things we can to prevent bullying in the workplace is a great first step to improving mental health in the workplace!
Make sure to reach out for support if you are experiencing bullying, whether it is from your supervisor, HR, or a colleague. It’s important to speak up and use self-advocacy skills when needed. Don’t forget, it’s always okay to use your voice!
Most workplaces have policies prohibiting bullying and discriminatory actions, as well as protections for employees who report these experiences. If you are experiencing workplace bullying, familiarize yourself with these documents to ensure you feel confident and competent to speak to your experiences.
Stay tuned throughout October to hear more about maintaining our workplace mental health through setting boundaries, accessing supports, and creating work/life balance!
Please reach out to us at Center Street Psychology if you would like to discuss more about our services. We provide support to a variety of populations and are able to support those experiencing workplace bullying. We provide a collaborative approach and are happy to provide you with a complimentary consultation to help potential “fit” with one of our counsellors. We are an inclusive clinic, located in Calgary, Alberta, providing in-person, virtual or hybrid services within Alberta and across Canada. Please call 403-399-5120 to speak with our Director of Client Care, Amy, who will gently guide you through the counselling process.
Written by: Tyler Schamehorn
References
Verkuil, B., Atasayi, S., Molendijk, M. L. (2015). Workplace bullying and mental health: A meta-analysis on cross-sectional and longitudinal data. PLOS ONE, 10(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135225
Workplace Bullying Institute (2021). 2021 WBI U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey.
