The Mental Health Prejudice in Tech (and Why Things Need to Change)
We don’t talk enough about mental health in Silicon Valley, not even close.
Mental illnesses have always been a big challenge in the tech industry. According to Lyra Health, 51% of tech professionals have been diagnosed with a mental health condition and 57% of tech industry employees reported burnout. Despite the fact that many have struggled with mental illnesses, the prejudice and discrimination toward mental health still hold people back from openly discussing it in professional settings or seeking medical help. When things are uneasy in our personal lives and the workplace doesn’t provide sufficient support for our mental health, we are more likely to experience excessive amounts of anxiety and stress, which can lead to burnout, depression, or even worse consequences. Mental illnesses are not only painful for employees but also detrimental to businesses through their negative impact on productivity, work relationships, and employee morale.
So what makes the tech industry a “hazard area” for mental health? What can you do at work to better support yourself and others? Last but not the least, why we started Feel Better in Tech and how you can contribute to creating a healthy and safe mental health culture for everyone.
