In our daily lives, we often hear about mental health challenges, but if we think about it, we can probably count on our fingers the moments we actually focus on our well-being. Physical health gets its due attention, but are we making the same effort to flex our mental muscles? While juggling countless tasks and responsibilities, it’s common to overlook our mental health.
This year, on Mental Health Day, we decided to place greater emphasis on mental well-being, and the theme, “It’s time to prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace,” couldn’t have been more fitting. To better understand this crucial subject, we organized a session with Arsharani, a Psychiatric Social Worker from the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Kozhikode. During this time, we engaged in open conversations about our mental health struggles and coping mechanisms, reminding us of the importance of prioritizing our well-being.
memorable part of the session was an interactive exercise where we listed our strengths and weaknesses and then passed the paper to our colleagues to share their views. The feedback was eye-opening, offering new perspectives and a deeper understanding of how we see ourselves versus how others perceive us.
Let’s walk through the key points from the session and see how we can build a workplace where mental health is a priority for all of us.
Knowing Your Emotions
Understanding our emotions is essential for maintaining mental health at work. In our busy lives, we often forget to check in with ourselves and acknowledge how we feel. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, or joy, recognizing these emotions can significantly impact how we handle our daily tasks.
When we pause to reflect on our feelings, we can see how they influence our work and interactions. For example, if we’re feeling overwhelmed, it might impact our focus or how we communicate with our teammates. On the flip side, recognizing joy or accomplishment can boost our motivation.
Knowing our emotions helps us express our needs and seek support when necessary. Also, sharing our feelings encourages others to do the same, creating a more understanding and supportive workplace.
Coping Mechanisms and Self-Care
Life can be difficult, and we all face stress and difficult emotions at one point or the other. In our session, we talked about how important it is to have coping mechanisms and practice self-care for our mental health.
Several employees opened up about their preferred coping techniques, like stepping away for a few minutes, working out, or enjoying a hobby.
Taking time for self-care—whether getting enough sleep or spending time with loved ones—can help recharge our energy and improve our ability to handle challenges. The bottom line is that making coping strategies and self-care a part of our daily routine can boost our mental health and well-being at work.
Recognizing Workplace Behavior
One of the key takeaways from our session was learning how to spot signs of stress, anxiety, or other mental health challenges—both in ourselves and our colleagues. For example, if someone starts withdrawing from group discussions, becomes more irritable, or has a sudden drop in productivity, it could mean they are struggling. Additionally, taking unexpected leaves or extended breaks can be a sign that someone needs support.
By noticing these small changes, we can reach out, offer help, or just be there to listen.
The Importance of a Healthy Sleep Cycle
For those of us in the IT field, especially those pulling night shifts, getting a good night’s sleep can be tough. In our session, we highlighted how sleep is not just a luxury—it’s
crucial for our mental and physical health. Night shifts can alter our natural body clocks, making it difficult to get a restful sleep. Without enough quality sleep, we may find it hard to focus, feel more anxious, and risk burning out.
To help improve our sleep patterns, our speaker guided us with some simple tips like-
- Keeping our sleeping areas dark and quiet
- Sticking to a regular bedtime
- Putting our devices away an hour before sleep
By prioritizing sleep, we can boost our focus and energy, helping us perform better in our fast-paced IT jobs.
Building a Supportive Work Environment
Mental health needs continuous care and support. During our session, we emphasized the importance of regularly checking in on each other and sharing feedback to promote well-being. It’s essential to have mental health support available and to create a space where employees feel okay reaching out for help. By making these conversations normal and
supporting one another, we can create a workplace where mental health is a daily priority, not just something we think about on Mental Health Day.
Conclusion
Our Mental Health Day session with Arsharani, reminded us how important it is to pause and prioritize our mental well-being. The honest conversations and activities helped us reflect on our mental health and learn how to support each other better. As our speaker highlighted, building a culture prioritizing mental health doesn’t happen overnight—it requires continuous effort, empathy, and understanding. Let us keep this momentum going, making our workplace a space where everyone feels supported and valued- every single day.