Managers can help by fostering a culture of trust
One in five Australians suffers from insomnia – one of the early signs of mental illness – and it may be due to work-related stress, according to new research.
Workers who suffer from insomnia said their work has affected the quality and number of hours of sleep they get each night.
These people often have difficulty turning off their mobile devices; they tend to wake up at night to go over their tasks, said Margo Lydon, CEO of SuperFriend, the mental health group that commissioned the research.
The study found workers not only experienced some form of mental health condition but that 45% also suffered from stigma at work because of it; young workers between the ages of 18 and 24 appeared to suffer most from workplace stigma.
Lydon pointed to the need of organisations to foster trust among their employees, especially when it comes to issues such as mental health.
“People at work don’t disclose when there isn’t a culture of trust, or a good working relationship with their manager,” Lydon said.
Having a poor job design also prevents organisations from establishing a healthy working environment, Lydon added. Reducing the autonomy of their workers or giving them an unreasonable workload can contribute to a toxic climate.
“If they’re not well designed, it doesn’t matter who you put into that role; they may typically experience poor mental health,” Lydon said.
