Workplace stress a major challenge to mental health

Pune: A 30-year-old woman working with an IT firm suffered from depression and retreated into a shell.
Her family members and doctors could not figure out the reason for the sudden change in her behaviour. After much discussion, her psychologist found that excessive work hours, guilt of unfinished tasks, and unrealistic targets were the key reasons behind her depression.
Workplace stress has emerged as one of the major culprits disrupting mental health of young people.The theme for this year's World Mental Health Day is ‘Mental Health at Work', emphasizing the importance of mental health in the workplace. Dr Sreystha Beppari, a consultant psychologist at Apollo Clinic, said, "Given the recent case of a Pune employee, this year's theme plays an important role in understanding the importance of a healthy workplace environment for employees' mental health."
"One of the most common complaints that we come across is burnout. The 30-year-old woman who came to us worked in a fast-paced IT sector company. She reported how she felt tired and at times could not complete her tasks at work. After a long conversation with her, we realised that she was going through severe burnout at work. She was also depressed due to her inability to complete work. We recommended that she take a break from work, speak with her family/loved ones, and come for regular visits to check on her progress. After a month, we saw that she was healthy but recommended she continue taking work breaks to avoid any kind of mental stress," he added.
Dr Beppari added that people engaged in demanding professions often experience workplace stress. "By definition, stress is called a state of worry or tension generated by a difficult situation. Stress can be felt in the body. Common symptoms are increased heart rate, palpitations, sweaty palms, etc. Therefore, stress is very much physical," he added.
The most common complaints handled by helpline centres pertain to relationship issues or breakups followed by workplace stress. Dr Rupa Agarwal, co-founder, Muktaa Mental Health Helpline, said, "In the past year, we received calls from 10,980 people who sought support for emotional distress. Although we are primarily based in Pune, we get calls from across the country. The most common calls relate to suicide ideation, romantic relationships, family and relative dynamics, academic and career, sexual and reproductive health, or physical health concerns. Our statistics show that 59% of helpline's callers are men, 40% are women, and 1% are transgenders. The intensity of workplace stress due to peer pressure to outperform each other and the constant feeling of unmet work demands lead to chronic stress. The impact could be sudden, like a panic attack, or a prolonged result, like exhaustion and depression."
Dr Agarwal added that Muktaa's helpline can be reached at 07887889882 between 12 noon and 8 pm, Mon-Sat. The calls are free of charge, and the identity of the caller is kept anonymous.
While the impact of stress on the body is well-known, doctors said that stress could lead to infertility in both men and women. Dr Rupali Tambe, fertility consultant, Nova IVF, said, "In today's fast-paced world, there is cut-throat competition and pressure to succeed in one's profession. If stress is not effectively managed, it can impact sleep patterns, and eating habits, leading to reliance on substances like caffeine, alcohol, and drugs -- all of which can hinder fertility. High stress levels raise the risk of hormonal imbalances, disrupt ovulation cycle, and pregnancy issues that can be a concern. Irregular work schedules, late hours at the office, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy diet choices are factors that can impact a woman's chance of conceiving. Postponing marriage for a career may result in reduced quantity and quality of eggs, necessitating assisted reproductive technologies for conception."
Diana Divya Crasta, a senior psychological counsellor, said, "Resilience, adaptability, and self-care are key to finding a balance. There needs to be better planning and seamless communication with the organisation can go a great way in providing them with a supportive work environment. One should have open communication with the organization, especially with the manager, and seek support from team members."
Offering flexible work arrangements, such as remote work or reduced hours, can help individuals manage workload and stress. Providing access to mental health resources, including counselling and support groups, can help individuals cope with the emotional impact of infertility.
Even individuals working from home must set a boundary to wrap up their work. It's crucial to keep one's stress levels under check.