Knowing the symptoms of anxiety and depression - the two most common mental health issues - will help you become more in touch with how your employees are truly doing.

Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in the USA, but it’s also one of the most treatable disorders. Those suffering from anxiety are more likely to struggle with depression symptoms as well. People with anxiety are 3-5x more likely to go to the doctor and 6x more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric care than those without anxiety symptoms.*

Those experiencing anxiety often have a hard time staying focused, and will likely have a harder time completing their work. Due to sleep disturbances and physical pain that can come with anxiety, employees struggling with this are more likely to miss work or arrive late. Sleep disturbances can also impact their quality of work

Depression

Depression can affect anyone at any time. Like anxiety, it can look different for different people. The median onset of depression is in the 30s but it can show up at any age. Depression is more common in women than men, and many people struggling with depression don’t seek the help they need. Almost half of those diagnosed with depression are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. 

When someone is struggling with depression, it is common for them to isolate and not want to be around others. You might notice that someone is keeping to themselves more, coming to work and/or meetings late, or missing more work. 

Due to loss of energy, interest, and motivation, it might be more difficult for employees with depression to focus on their work and get their work completed in a timely manner. Depression and anxiety look different for everyone - that is why it is important to establish a strong relationship with your employees so you can have conversations on a deeper level. If you have a good relationship with team members, they are more likely to share with you when they are struggling and need help. For more signs that employees are struggling with mental health in the workplace, check out the blog post: 6 Signs Your Employees are Struggling with Mental Health.

To learn more about how managers and leaders can support their employee wellbeing, download our Mental Health Training for Managers Handbook; the one-stop guide for managers to address common employee mental health challenges.

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