Invisible disabilities such as mental health conditions are increasing at an alarming rate. The World Health Organisation estimated that globally there are 12 billion working days lost every year to depression and anxiety at a cost of US$1 trillion per year in lost productivity. If this staggering statistic is not enough to raise eyebrows and sound the alarm bells that we need to raise more awareness as a society on the prevalence of this debilitating illness then we are in dire trouble! Depression and anxiety is not only debilitating for those who experience mental health, it also impacts peoples livelihoods and their ability to provide for their families creating a cyclical pattern of employment challenges
With 42 percent of Australians aged between 16-85 having experienced a mental health concern at some point in their life, this illness is impacting more than their health and wellbeing. Mental health concerns are having drastic effects on people’s ability to engage with their community and participate in the workplace.
Leading Employment Service provider, atWork Australia specialise in supporting people living with mental health conditions to secure employment and firmly believe that meaningful employment can have a positive influence on people’s health and wellbeing. atWork Australia Registered Psychologist, Galit Bailey, has supported people living with mental health concerns for multiple decades to progress on their employment journey, “Employment in itself, is a mental health intervention, as it shifts the focus from psychological difficulties to building strength and resilience, to developing coping skills, and to gaining a sense of control on one’s life. The added value of employment includes skill-building, financial independence and meaningful social interactions work to reduce the negative impact of mental ailments,” said Galit.
As Galit has outlined some positive benefits of employment, it is just as important to ensure the employment is suitable for the individual and their job does not become the source of or exacerbate their condition. The World Health Organisation have outlined multiple factors that could heighten a person’s mental health concerns in the workplace, including excessive workloads or work pace, long, unsocial or inflexible hours, lack of control over work design or workload, and under use of skills or being under-skilled for work[i].
atWork Australia Disability Employment Services (DES) client, Shane, has experienced self-loathing as he continuously felt as if he was not utilising his skill set, as he would settle for what was an easier option at the time. “I have always been passionate about IT. After studying for a long time, I still didn’t feel confident to pursue the career I wanted, what I was actually good at. Instead, I would do the mundane laboring jobs, rather than using my brain. I used my labor to make money. It’s always left me feeling that I was not full filling my potential.”
“After so long of feeling crappy when I got home from work, I resorted to substance abuse as a coping mechanism. As you could imagine, this led me every which way except forward.”
Now Shane can look back and reflect on his journey, he can see his employment was only one element in his life that led him to substance abuse and ultimately self-sabotage, which created situations where he wound up in prison. The turning point for Shane was the moment he realised his destructive behavior had to change when he walked away from a horrific car accident, where fortunately he or no-one else were injured.
After this accident, Shane isolated in his bedroom, barely leaving the house for fourteen months. Shane continued, “My only social or human interaction was when I would go to atWork Australia’s office. I would put on a nice shirt and a brave face, but they’re not silly. They didn’t treat me like, “we know you have just got out of bed and put your make up on for this appointment.”
Shane’s journey towards returning to the workplace and improving his health and wellbeing was a slow process. He worked closely with the atWork Australia team and their professional Wellness Advisors. Shane continued to make steady progress on his journey after a realisation that he doesn’t have to make drastic changes, rather start making small consistent changes. Shane commented, “Originally, I would say, forget my mental health, I have bills to pay I need to make money. The team helped me to realise I needed to get my health right first. Otherwise, I would fall into my old pattern of behavior, self-destruction and lose my job.”
Managing a mental health concern is an ongoing challenge, for those experiencing mental health concerns they are required to consistently work on their overall wellbeing to manage the intensity and allow them to maintain their daily functions. For Shane, he is now reaping the rewards for his hard work and vulnerability to work through his difficult times. He has now returned to work and is enthusiastic about his future. “It’s the first time in a long time that I have been up before alarms, I am doing thousands of steps every week. At the end of the day when I sit down, I am proud that I have come so far. I am now at a good company with good people and atWork Australia supported me to get here. If I was pushed into the workforce before I was ready, I 100% would have failed.”
In the lead up to mental health month in October, and every month, it is important to remember the invisible challenges many Australians are combatting within the community and the workplace. Be empathetic and understanding because anyone at any point throughout their lives could be impacted by this debilitating illness.
atWork Australia are dedicated to supporting people from diverse backgrounds to secure meaningful employment and supporting individuals to thrive in the workplace. Giving every Australian the opportunity to achieve their employment goals and aspirations is a key focus of what we do each and everyday.
[i] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work
