{"id":13166,"date":"2023-11-21T10:10:04","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T10:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iqeq.com\/?p=13166"},"modified":"2023-11-21T10:10:47","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T10:10:47","slug":"men-and-mental-health-in-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iqeq.com\/insights\/men-and-mental-health-in-the-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"Men and mental health in the workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Men rarely open-up about mental health issues at work. Until recently, I could never imagine talking to a work colleague about mental health, since I feared being perceived as weak and lacking the strength to be a successful leader.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have hinted at my own mental health struggles on LinkedIn. However, it was not until a recent visit from Mind<\/a>, the UK-based mental health charity, and their men\u2019s mental health session at IQ-EQ, that I realised that there was an evolving recognition in society about men\u2019s mental health. It was finally getting the attention it deserves, and it was okay to be open about it.<\/p>\n

The reluctance of men to open-up about their emotions is irrespective of age, nationality, ethnicity or racial background. Tragically, suicide is the biggest cause of death<\/a> in men under the age of 50. Thanks to the endeavours of great charity organisations like Mind and high profile mental-health ambassadors such as Prince William<\/a>, employers are waking up to the importance of mental wellbeing for their employees. The working environment can play a significant role in influencing a person\u2019s mental state.<\/p>\n

High work volumes and resource constraints can adversely impact mental health in all genders at work, however it\u2019s unhealthy masculine ideals that are prevalent in the poor mental health of men. Culturally, the male stereotype has expectations of a man being a high earner, successful, strong, ambitious, independent and stoic. The toxicity comes when men play to these expectations and reduce their capacity to reflect and acknowledge their own sadness and stress. Lack of career and progression compared to friends is also a key predictor of poor mental health in men.<\/p>\n

It is therefore no wonder, that with unconscious masculine ideals, men choose not to open-up about their mental health. Their suppressed emotional struggle can often play out at work, undetected with serious consequences.<\/p>\n

Behaviours to look out for that may indicate mental distress<\/h2>\n
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  1. Distraction \u2013 frequently working long hours, lack of concentration, missing deadlines, reduced work performance<\/li>\n
  2. Escaping \u2013 unhealthy habits, like heavy drinking and binge eating<\/li>\n
  3. Withdrawal \u2013 not participating in work-related social activities, lack of social contact with co-workers, high work absence rate<\/li>\n
  4. Externalisation \u2013 fractious, irritable, frustration with colleagues, showing anger and anti-social behaviour<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to start the conversation<\/h2>\n

    Not all men will be naturally able to identify and talk about their feelings and emotions. A Time to Change study<\/a> in 2019 found that\u00a0only 25% of men\u00a0would open up to friends if they were struggling with their mental health. The study also found that they wouldn\u2019t feel confident in identifying when a friend was trying to open up.<\/p>\n

    How do we create an open environment at work where men feel at ease to share their feelings?<\/p>\n