With the growing mental health crisis, 57% of Indian employees have experienced overwork, 62% feel remote work demands high working hours, and 71% Gen Z suffer from mental health problems. The data suggests that employees’ mental health is affected by several factors. A 30-year-old IT professional from Pune suffered severe depression and burnout—reason: unachievable targets and long working hours.
There are more such case studies you must have read on LinkedIn and other digital platforms that show how toxic corporate environments can be. But people are actually talking about it and telling ways how to prevent it. Today’s blog serves the same purpose.
We are going to understand which common factors can genuinely deteriorate employees’ mental health, and then we are going to talk about the solution part. Proven psychology-based ways to improve mental health at work. All these are covered in our Industrial Psychology Internship online. If you want a detailed understanding of how mental health works in the workplace, you can explore this course.
Important Things That Affect Employees Mental Health
If you are feeling low at work and it’s affecting your day-to-day life, even making you hate your job, you are hitting the wrong note. There could be some problems that every one or two employees face. Let’s discuss them in detail:
Too Much Work On The Desk
Industrial and Organizational Psychology explains how employees become mentally drained due to heavy workloads and long work hours. Big tech giants and the IT industries demand work under strict deadlines and sometimes late-night shifts. In such cases, a person may undergo constant burnout, anxiety, or even depression, making a person emotionally exhausted and unsatisfied. It not only leads to employees' poor mental health but also declines the company's productivity.
Lack of Control On Job:
Often, employees are given tasks unrelated to their expertise or the positions they applied for. This ambiguity could be stressful for employees, leading to psychological distress. It could be improved by clearly defining roles, which would increase confidence in the workplace.
Toxic Work Culture And Leaders Being Authoritative
Most of the employees are frustrated by the way their bosses dominate them. Although it's common in most organizations, being too strict or overly authoritative can demotivate employees and make them feel low or disrespected. There may also be concerns about a toxic work culture. It could be bullying or targeting an employee, or setting office politics. I/O psychologists have observed that this could lead to distrust among employees, make them feel emotionally detached, and cause them to lose expectations of the organization.
Work-Life Imbalance
You must have heard today how crucial work-life balance has become for employees. Today, people need proper rest, time to socialise, time to travel, and time for work. That's why there are so many digital nomads around the world. And if things go the other way, it could create an imbalance in life. If you are accommodating work in your personal time, sitting for long periods at a screen without socializing, or are asked to work at unexpected hours, you are bound to feel fatigue and distress. At first, you might feel it's normal, but over time, it will leave you feeling tired, both mentally and emotionally.
Unfair Treatment and Exclusion
If you are feeling excluded at work or treated with bias, it could surely make you feel depressed. I/O psychologists suggest fostering an inclusive environment where all employees are appreciated and treated fairly.
Unfair Pay And Job Insecurity
Someone being unsure about their current employment status or getting paid less than their efforts could experience increasing stress or stretch to disengagement, even leading to suicidal thoughts, as per the reports.
Lack Of Support and Care
If you are experiencing isolation at the office and are unable to communicate your needs, it can increase feelings of loneliness, especially among hybrid and remote workers.
7 Psychology-Based Ways To Improve Mental Health
With so much organizational stress increasing nowadays, the role of Psychologists has become crucial in reducing the above problems. Let’s discuss some commonly used practices by I/O Psychologists to improve mental health for employees:
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
EAPs are designed to understand employees' mental health in depth to provide support, psychological counselling, and guidance if required. Research suggests it's a proven technique for reducing stress, preventing burnout, and alleviating fatigue.
Guided Mindfulness Training
One of the essential ways to improve mental health is for employees to receive mindfulness meditation, relaxation techniques, and cognitive-behavioural strategies to replace negative emotions with positive ones. I/O psychologists enable this through workshops and personal sessions.
Organized Buddy Support System
It has been found that buddy systems or networks provide a safe space for sharing challenges, supporting each other's growth, and building a positive community. It's an effective way to reduce isolation and distress, especially in hybrid or remote work setups.
Constant Psychological Interventions
Methods such as gratitude journaling, solution-focused guidance, and feedback build employees' resilience and job satisfaction. Early psychological interventions can foster motivation, optimism, and engagement, which are necessary for managing work stress and negativity.
Mental Health Awareness Campaigns
There are times when employees are unaware whether they are struggling with mental health problems. To ensure everyone is educated about these stressors, it is essential to discuss these topics openly. Psychologists can use these methods to train managers and leaders to reduce stigma and promote mental health support for all.
Flexible Work Policies And Supportive Leaders
Flexibility in working hours, location, and job roles helps employees balance personal and professional life smoothly. Also, constant support from managers builds open communication, responsive leadership, and reduces stress, improving well-being.
Access To Therapy Platforms And Digital Tools
Industrial Psychologists can suggest various digital platforms that offer mental health therapy and guidance. AI tools can make support more accessible and affordable, especially for employees who are unsure about seeking face-to-face interventions or working remotely.
Conclusion
Wrapping up today’s blog, we can conclude how severely mental health can be affected due to factors like bias, lack of support, toxic work environment, and excessive workload. Such problems can only be solved when we become increasingly educated about mental health and support colleagues facing these challenges.
Indian Counselling Services provides a certified Industrial & Organizational Psychology internship in India that covers the foundations of Industrial Psychology, organizational dynamics, leadership development, and consumer behaviour. Whether you are an HR professional, psychology student, mental health professional, manager, or simply an employee looking to improve mental health, this course is perfect for you.
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