Staff hide mental health problems in fear

Employees worry telling their bosses of any mental health problems will lead to them being ostracized, held back from promotions or fired.

ABU DHABI // Workers are keeping mental health issues from their employers for fear that an admission may harm their careers.

Experts are calling for better strategies to change outdated attitudes to mental health in the workplace and to provide a better way for employees to disclose any medical issues. Dr Deema Sihweil, a psychologist at Carbone Clinic, Dubai, said patients feared telling their employers about a mental illness as it would, they thought, mark them out as weak.

“It is an extremely common occurrence for patients to seek psychological services without informing their employers, for fear of being ostracised, held back from promotions, or even fired,” she said.

Jared Alden, a psychotherapist, said employers often had a “shopper’s mindset”.

“They might think of their workers as easily replaced and thus why bother with an employee that might need accommodating,” said Mr Alden, of the German Neuroscience Centre in Dubai Healthcare City.

“Most people think that depression and anxiety are very hard to treat, when the truth is most things in mental health can be treated very effectively.

Dr Yousef Allaban, medical director at the American Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology, said many employers misunderstood mental illness.

But Dr Sihweil said not disclosing an illness could inadvertently hamper one’s career.

“Repetitive tardiness, loss of concentration, poor time management, uncontrollable mood swings, physical pain or relationship discord with colleagues may all be signs of psychological distress or problems in one’s personal life,” she said.

“Anything from sleep disturbances to substance abuse or dependence can wreak havoc on one’s ability to perform on the job.”

The World Health Organisation estimates 35 per cent to 45 per cent of absenteeism from work can be attributed to mental health problems.