Why the stigma around ‘mental health days?’
Anxious. Fatigued. Overwhelmed. Depressed. Many feel one or all of these emotions over the course of their careers. Often times, there’s a temporary fix: take a day off to recuperate and recharge, otherwise known as a “mental health day.”
… But chances are you don’t work at a company where that kind of admission is actively encouraged. And if you did, would you have the guts to email your manager to ask for one?
Madalyn Parker, a web developer at a live-chat company in Michigan, did. After emailing her team that she would be taking two days off to focus on her mental health, the company’s CEO praised her candor.
Sure enough, the email went viral, prompting CEO Ben Congleton to pen an essay about de-stigmatizing mental health issues in the workplace. In it, he argues it is the employer’s job to treat his or her employees as humans, and to understand that getting sick is perfectly normal.
It’s 2017. We are in a knowledge economy. Our jobs require us to execute at peak mental performance. When an athlete is injured they sit on the bench and recover. Let’s get rid of the idea that somehow the brain is different.
However, Parker’s story is highly unusual — at least in the U.S. According to a 2016 survey by the American Psychological Organization, less than half of working Americans say their office supports employee well-being and 1 in 3 workers describe being “chronically stressed” on the job. And where employers do make an effort toward workplace wellness, again, only a third of workers say they take advantage of it.
That’s a problem. More than 42 million Americans (more than 18% of the total population) suffer mental health issues each year. And 9.3 million suffer serious mental health disorders, meaning their condition impedes day-to-day activities, including work. And depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders in the U.S, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
The statistics are even worse for people of color in the U.S. The Surgeon General reports that people of color are less likely to receive mental health care. Additional barriers, such as poverty, social stigma, prejudice and language, play a role. Black Americans, in particular, are 10% more likely to report serious psychological distress than white Americans.
Suffice to say, a lot of people struggle with mental health, and access to affordable services to support them is difficult, especially for those who are underinsured or can’t afford it.
So why is mental health so stigmatized when in fact these struggles are so normal?
Health professionals have tried to increase awareness through campaigns and candid posts by celebrities like Kid Cudi and Lena Dunham have attempted to normalize people’s mental health issues.
But social media posts like Parker’s (who is not a celebrity) go viral because they help break through some of the discomfort around admitting you need a break. And stories like hers will only increase when those in leadership positions take them, too, and encourage others to do the same — guilt-free.
Taking a “mental health day” shows people there might be a light at the end of the tunnel — or at least at the end of a really bad work week. There’s no shame in that.
