Understanding the Impact of Mental Health in the Workplace.

09 May 2025

Published in: Black Country Chamber of Commerce News

Discover how you can contribute to creating a welcoming and open work environment that tackles the impact of mental health.

Mental health can affect everyone at different stages of life, and it continues to impact hundreds of thousands of people in the UK. In support of Mental Health Awareness week, it’s vital that we continue to raise awareness where we can, as it impacts the heart of your business and that is your trusted employees.

Stay with us as we discuss:

Defining mental health and what it entails.
The barriers it can create in the workplace.
Why mental health needs to be recognised.
How you can provide adjustments and support for yourself and your employees.

The stigma around discussing mental health has reduced over time, but there’s still more work to be done to ensure individuals feel accepted and safe to discuss their mental health with their managers and colleagues. Providing more opportunities for open conversations can build trust and loyalty between you and your team.

Improving mental health in the workplace can ensure your business is running smoothly with a happy and resilient team behind it. There are many ways businesses can offer meaningful support.

Defining Mental Health and what it entails

The World Health Organization defines mental health as a ‘state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community’

In a workplace setting, a great employee delivers high-quality of work and adapts to fast-paced working environments. However, when someone has a poor state of mental wellbeing, it affects their ability to meet role expectations and impacts their self-image. Factors in the workplace that may affect mental health include:

Receiving feedback – Providing constructive criticism is essential but poorly delivered or overly negative feedback can contribute to low self-esteem and negative thought patterns.

Work overload – Working on too much at once can cause anxiety and burnout.

Isolation and loneliness – Employees who don’t feel comfortable reaching out may suffer in silence, which can reduce the quality of their work.

Family matters – Unexpected situations and emergencies outside of work can make it difficult to focus, leading to worry and anxiety.

Mental health goes beyond diagnosed conditions; it can stem from self-perception, hormone imbalances, or long-term stress. The way we tackle our mental health is different for everyone as it comes from the way we interpret the world from childhood to adulthood. The environments we grow up in can influence the way we cope with the stresses of life.

Self-esteem plays a big role in how we navigate work and handle expectations. While ups and downs are part of every job, learning to manage the difficult days helps build resilience and consistency. Mental health is best treated holistically and there are ways to provide different types of support.

Examples of mental health conditions that people may face include:

Depression - An extreme state or low mood and motivation, questioning parts of everyday life, isolation and neglect of taking care of themselves.

Anxiety - A state of overwhelm or worry over perceived and real threats, triggering freeze, flight or fight responses.

The barriers it can create in the workplace

Living with poor mental health can eventually take a toll physically, the brain signals this distress, resulting in symptoms like:

Headaches.
Muscle tension.
Sleep issues.
Digestive problems.

These physical symptoms can reduce focus, increase absenteeism, and make it harder for employees to engage with colleagues.

Work Culture

Work culture is the social aspect that can influence mental health, especially for those dealing with mental health conditions. A culture that avoids mental health conversations can make employees feel isolated or as if something is wrong with them. This may lead them to hide their struggles, impacts their self-esteem and workplace relationships.

Performance

Employees struggling with mental health may experience dips in performance. Unfortunately, this is sometimes mislabelled as laziness or lack of reliability. It’s important to notice these signs and encourage a safe discussion to understand the root of these challenges.

On the other hand, those who place immense pressure on themselves might overwork to compensate, leading to inconsistent performance and eventual burnout.

Why mental health needs to be recognised

Recognising mental health concerns early can prevent crises. Addressing poor mental health at the beginning can save time, protect wellbeing and promote a healthier workplace.

Suffering with poor mental health alone can lead to negative thinking of life and influence cognitive distortions. But, with the right support, people can and do get better!

How you can provide adjustments and support

There are many ways to support better mental health:

Providing a holistic approach

There are a wide range of options you can take to improve your mental health. These include:

Eating well – A balanced diet supports both body and mind, providing the energy and focus needed for daily tasks.

Exercising – Moving your body can decrease stress hormones and distracts you from negative thoughts. Whether it’s a gym session or a walk in the park, movement makes a difference.

Pursuing hobbies – Finding an activity or hobby you’re interested in can reduce stress and improve your mood.

What businesses can do

Start the conversation

To reduce the stigma of mental health, it all starts with a conversation. It can be during team or one-to-one meetings, opening the opportunity to discuss mental health can show your employees that they have a safe space to discuss their concerns, which in turn will lead to finding solutions to prevent low performance.

Host team days outside of work

Spending time with your team outside of work can promote a positive work culture and reduce pressure in the workplace. Going for a meal or finding an activity that everyone can participate in can reduce isolation and loneliness in work environments.

Keep learning

Investing in training and resources to improve how your business supports employee wellbeing demonstrates authenticity for both your customers and employees.

Conclusion

Understanding mental health takes time, empathy and consistent effort. It’s complex, and many suffer in silence. We hope after reading this blog that you feel confident in knowing how to take care of your mental health and support others.

This year’s Mental Health Awareness week theme is ‘There is power in community’ No one should face mental health challenges alone, the power of communities within your workplace can make a difference through every conversation.

Mental Health UK offers helpful guides and resources to encourage open conversations and build a healthier work environment. Explore their conversation guides here.

If you or someone you know is struggling, these charities offer 24/7 support:

Samaritans – Call 116 123
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) Open 5pm to midnight – Call 0800 58 58 58
Shout – Text SHOUT to 85258

Let’s keep the conversations going and continue to work together to remove the stigma around mental health!