Assignment 2: Moving from One Instrument to a Symphony Orchestra
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YvonneAbronCorrectWeek6.docxMENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THE WORKPLACE 1
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THE WORKPLACE 10
Assignment 2: Moving from One Instrument to a Symphony Orchestra
Mental Health Problems in the Workplace
Yvonne Abron
November 14, 2017
Walden University
Writing with Confidence and Purpose (ENGL - 1010 - 4)
Instructor(s): Jennifer Kozar
Mental Health Problems in the Workplace
Introduction
Mental health is the well-being state in which one understands their abilities, and can cope with daily life stresses while working productively in the community. [One is singular; their is plural. Make sure your nouns/pronouns agree in number.] In contrast, mental illness is the medically diagnosable condition that results in significant impairment of one’s affective, cognitive and relational abilities. The article “Mental health problems in the workplace” is an analysis of common mental illnesses affecting employees and ways of curbing them. The article also concretizes the importance of handling mental disorder cases, in enhancing social and economic integration of the affected parties. The scope of mental health illnesses is also discussed in the article, as well as enumeration of data collected in the United States, concerning the issue. From the information gathered, there is serious need for advocating and advancement of education programs among various stakeholders, who are directly and indirectly affected by mental health illnesses. First, employees should learn ways of identifying and handling employees with mental illnesses. Secondly, employees affected should be encouraged to seek therapy, as well be given tips of avoiding falling victim of the illnesses. Mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, ADHD and bipolar disease are hidden and overlooked at work, such that only few cases are treated, which is the main reason for loss of jobs and low company productivity. [Nicely constructed introduction and thesis!]
Research Study
As elaborated earlier, low treatment rates imperil workers’ careers and companies’ productivity. Adequate treatment can however alleviate mental disorder symptoms for employees and improve job performance. Tackling mental health challenges at work can impact overall health, relationships and even lifespan. Depression and anxiety tend to affect people in their prime working years and may last a lifetime, if left untreated. Employees with mental health issues are often given low priority in the workplace. Mental health problems affect many employees, a fact that is usually overlooked, because these disorders tend to be hidden at work. Lack of treatment can be part of the problem facing companies, since only 1 in 4 employees seek help. [Where did you find this information? Be sure to cite your source. Also, any exact words from outside sources, including numbers, need quotation marks around them. Do you need quotation marks here?] More emphasis has traditionally been placed on physical health rather than on mental health and well-being. When mental health issues arise and go unaddressed, the employee suffers, as does the employee’s department and the company’s bottom line (Mark & Smith, 2012). [I see a lot of information in this paragraph. You need to turn this information into argumentation. Your argument, in this paragraph, is that low treatment rates affect workers’ productivity. Why is this? Make a clear argument here.]
In a research, Americans aged 15 to 54 reported that 18% of employed people said they experienced symptoms of a mental health disorder in the previous month. [I want you to work on paragraph organization. Each paragraph needs a topic sentence. As you probably know, a topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph, and it tells readers what you are going to discuss within the paragraph. In this essay, each topic sentence should be a supporting reason for your thesis statement. Then, all ideas within a paragraph should clearly connect with the topic sentence (supporting reason). What is the true supporting reason (topic sentence) of this paragraph?]
Out of fear that the employer might jeopardize their job, the employees do not seek help. As a result, mental health goes unrecognized and untreated, causing damage to their health and career. [<-How so? You have some blanket (unexplained) claims in this paragraph. Make your argument.] Additionally, it reduces productivity in the work place. Mental health disorders are usually one of the three leading causes of disability, together with cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disorders. Symptoms tend to manifest differently at work, than they do at home or in other settings. Mental health issues become costly to affected companies, especially through a decrease in productivity. Employee performance, rates of illness, absenteeism, accidents and staff turnover are all caused by employees’ mental health. In the United States, approximately 220 million days are lost from the normal working days each year. [Where did you find this information? Cite your source.] Mental illness imposes a heavy burden in terms of human suffering, social exclusion and stigmatization. While globalization has been a powerful and dynamic force for economic growth and development, working conditions and the labor market have changed dramatically during the last two decades (Collins et al, 2013). [Be sure to explain any outside source information that you incorporate into your paper. Why is this information important? How do you want your reader to interpret it? How does it support the argument you are making here? Make connections for your reader.]
Depression is one among the top three workplace disorders, besides family crisis and stress. [See my notes above about creating topic sentences that support your thesis statement.] Depressive disorders are responsible for 3% of total short term disability days lost. Approximately 76% of those cases are related to female employees. [Be sure you cite all of this information that you have obtained from outside sources.] Depressive disorders account for over half of all medical plan dollars paid for mental health problems. Employees with depression show signs such as nervousness, restlessness or irritability. Moreover, the employee may show signs such as physical complaints, a pre occupation with aches and pains. They may also show signs of fatigue at work. The depression may also impair judgement, causing cloud decision making. [How so? Again, I see lots of information. Make an argument about how these things may affect employees’ productivity.] Almost 15% of those suffering from depression normally die through committing suicide. Many employees are unaware of the possibility that they have depression. Some on the other hand fear that their insurance is inadequate to cover for treatment costs. In case an employer notices depression among their employees, they may refer them for help. Different people do not experience similar clinical depression symptoms. In the workplace, symptoms of depression may often be recognized through decreased productivity, morale problems, and lack of cooperation, safety risks and complaints of being tired. In addition, it has been revealed that depressed individuals exhibit high rates of absenteeism. Furthermore, such people have the tendency to abuse alcohol and drugs, resulting in other problems on and off the job (Jain et al, 2013). Employers need adequate skills on ways of handling employees, so as to improve their condition. In the case of depressed employees, employers need to understand ways of helping them learn their situation and seek assistance. In order to master this, employers should learn about depression and the sources available for help. They should also recognize signs of a problem in an employee. What is more, they should discuss the resulting negative changes in work performance with the employee (Brohan et al, 2012). [Make sure you create a clear topic sentence for this paragraph. Then, you need to ensure all ideas within the paragraph support your topic sentence. I see lots of jumping around here, so I want to see you focus your paragraphs better. Please apply all of the suggestions made above and in the grading comments to the rest of your paper as well.]
Bipolar disorder is another common illness affecting employees in the work place. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans annually. This translates to about 2.6% of the U.S. population aged 18 years and above. Bipolar disorder can be difficult to gauge in the workplace. However, managers should learn to be tolerant of such situations. Employees with the disorder may approach it in three different ways at the workplace: telling everyone including supervisors, telling no one or telling a couple of coworkers they trust. Most of the employees suffering from bipolar disorder still work and are hirable in the workplace. The employee may appear to be highly energetic and creative, but the actual productivity may be affected. For instance, the employee may become disruptive in the workplace. They may start making poor judgements, which may make the company lose money. Studies have shown that the depressive phase of bipolar disorder can impair performance more than the manic phase. People in the manic stage of the illness often feel that they can do things that no one else can do (Drake et al, 2013).
Having an anxiety disorder can cause a major impact in the workplace. People may turn down a promotion or other opportunities arising, simply because it involves travelling or public speaking. Anxiety disorder is the sixth leading disorder in America, affecting approximately 18% of American adults. Anxiety disorders are associated with poor quality of life and are known for causing high rates of divorce and unemployment. Anxiety disorders are associated with poor job productivity and work disability. They may result in loss of more than $4.1 billion in indirect workplace cost. Anxiety disorders lead to an average of 4.6 work day’s loss, in every 3 months. The employee may show signs such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and excess working, as well as irritability. Anxiety disorders can go unnoticed for 5 to 10 years. Notably, only 1 in 3 diagnosed individuals receive treatment for the illness. While anxiety can be extremely unpleasant, it does not have to be permanently disabling. Maintaining a job is an essential part of recovery and wellbeing for many people with mental illnesses. Evidently, companies should educate employees and managers about mental health disorders. Besides, the management should encourage the use of an employee assistance program and other related health programs. Employers should ensure that employees with anxiety disorders benefit from certain accommodations such as modified workplaces, flexible schedules and deadlines, as well as permission to take periodic breaks from work. Demonstrating openness and willingness to address anxiety as seriously as any other medical condition will make those affected feel more willing to seek for assistance (LaMontagne et al, 2014).
According to research, ADHD affects adults, unlike the common sentiment that it only affects children. “Its symptoms can create challenges for adults in the workplace, just as they do for children in school. Some adults with ADHD have successful careers” (CHADD, 2017). “Others may struggle in the work place, displaying symptoms such as poor communication skills, distractibility, procrastination and difficulty managing complex projects” (CHADD, 2017). “Each individual with ADHD suffers from a different set of disability” (CHADD, 2017). An average of 3.5% of employees that suffer from ADHD ate faced with loss of their jobs. Behavioral problems among such employees are the main causes of job termination. “Problems with external distractibility can be the biggest challenge for adults with ADHD” (CHADD, 2017). “Adults with the disorder may struggle with impulsivity and temper outbursts in the workplace” (CHADD, 2017). “Adults with the hyperactive presentation of ADHD often do better in jobs that allow a great deal of movement, such as sales” (CHADD, 2017). “However such employees’ failure to remember deadlines and other responsibilities can antagonize co-workers, especially when working on teams” (CHADD, 2017). “Because of the strong need for stimulation, some adults with ADHD become easily bored at work, especially with detailed paperwork and routine tasks” (CHADD, 2017). “Managing time can be a big challenge for adults with ADHD (Adamou et al, 2013)”. “Putting things off not only prevents completion of tasks, but also creates problems for others on the team” (CHADD, 2017). “Managing complex or long-term projects may be the hardest organizational challenge for such adults (CHADD, 2017)”. “The inability to find important papers, turn in reports and time sheets, as well as maintain a filing system can create the impression of carelessness” (CHADD, 2017). “Further, individuals with the disorder may unintentionally offend co-workers by interrupting frequently, talking too much, being too blunt and failing listening well” (CHADD, 2017). Since these signs are noticeable, employers should pay attention and ensure the affected employees get the help they need.
Conclusion
The workplace is the most important environment to discuss mental health and illness. However, it is the last place we expect to hear about it. Roughly 85% of employee’s mental health conditions are undiagnosed or untreated. Mental health conditions cost employers more than $100 billion and 217 million lost workdays each year. Employers can increase productivity and employee retention by addressing mental health issues in the workplace and investing in mental health care for workers. Getting help can reduce accidents, sick-days, and employee turnover. Work is often a very positive experience for people recovering from mental illness. Some mental health problems in the workplace can be prevented through organizations taking steps to create healthy workplaces for all employees. However much time therapy takes, it should be viewed as an investment that will pay off in the long run.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/
Scroll down to the section entitled Article from a Database to see properly formatted examples.]
Adamou, M., Arif, M., Asherson, P., Aw, T. C., Bolea, B., Coghill, D., ... & Pitts, M. (2013). “Occupational issues of adults with ADHD. BMC psychiatry”, 13(1), 59.
Brohan, E., Henderson, C., Wheat, K., Malcolm, E., Clement, S., Barley, E. A., ... & Thornicroft, G. (2012). “Systematic review of beliefs, behaviours and influencing factors associated with disclosure of a mental health problem in the workplace”. “BMC psychiatry”, 12(1), 11.
CHADD (2017) “Workplace Issues” Retrieved from: http://www.chadd.org/Understanding-ADHD/For-Adults/Workplace-Issues.aspx
Collins, P. Y., Insel, T. R., Chockalingam, A., Daar, A., & Maddox, Y. T. (2013). “Grand challenges in global mental health: integration in research, policy, and practice. PLoS medicine”, 10(4), e1001434.
Drake, R. E., Frey, W., Bond, G. R., Goldman, H. H., Salkever, D., Miller, A., ... & Milfort, R. (2013). “Assisting Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression in returning to work”. “American Journal of Psychiatry”, 170(12), 1433-1441.
Jain, G., Roy, A., Harikrishnan, V., Yu, S., Dabbous, O., & Lawrence, C. (2013). “Patient-reported depression severity measured by the PHQ-9 and impact on work productivity: results from a survey of full-time employees in the United States”. “Journal of occupational and environmental medicine”, 55(3), 252-258.
LaMontagne, A. D., Martin, A., Page, K. M., Reavley, N. J., Noblet, A. J., Milner, A. J., ... & Smith, P. M. (2014). “Workplace mental health: developing an integrated intervention approach”. BMC psychiatry, 14(1), 131.
Mark, G., & Smith, A. P. (2012). “Effects of occupational stress, job characteristics, coping, and attributional style on the mental health and job satisfaction of university employees”. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 25(1), 63-78.
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