Trying to decide whether to talk to someone in your life about your concerns for their mental well-being is tricky. When that person is your coworker, the depression conversation can be more complicated, as your relationship is likely a blend of personal and professional.
Knowing what to say and when is a challenge, but you have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. You let them know that they are not alone, someone cares, and resources are available to them.
Today, the Mental Health Hotline team offers insight into helping coworkers with depression.
Choose an Appropriate Place and Time for the Conversation
Talking to a coworker about depression is delicate. You may notice the quality of their work has dropped or they’re consistently late to work, which are common depression symptoms, or perhaps you’ve noticed a distinct change in their personality, like increased irritability or being quieter and more withdrawn.
Expressing concern that your coworker may have depression should be done discreetly, in private, and come from a place of offering support. This isn’t a lunchroom conversation or one that should happen by popping into their cubicle. Instead, perhaps invite them to walk around the parking lot with you on break or invite them to a private lunch.
Approach Addressing Depression at Work With Empathy
Reiterate that you’re having a conversation about depression with your coworker because you care about their well-being, not because you’re prying or planning to tell HR about your concerns. If you have a close relationship, you may choose to share your personal experience with depression.
Create a Safe and Secure Environment With Active Listening Skills
Resist the urge to keep talking once you’ve set a caring tone for the conversation. Use active listening when your coworker is talking, and take a few seconds to digest what they’re disclosed before responding.
It’s normal to feel compelled to keep talking to fill awkward silences, but try to resist. Your friend may need time to think about how to phrase what they want to say, so be sure to give them space.
Express Your Concern When Offering Support
Support for a depressed coworker can take several forms. Perhaps you might ask them if they want to take lunch and breaks together, offering companionship. Reiterate that you’re worried about their mental health and its effect on them.
Your coworker may not realize that depression is negatively impacting their job. Bringing this up can be awkward — you don’t want to give them something else to worry and stress about, but there could be real consequences for your friend if depressive symptoms have caused work quality to deteriorate.
You may benefit from a conversation with a trained professional about how, or if, you should address these risks to someone’s employment. Mental Health Hotline has resources for people in support roles, in addition to resources for people who struggle with mental health.
Respect Their Privacy
Talking about mental health struggles is a deeply personal conversation. Although acceptance of mental illness has come a long way in the last couple of decades, there’s still a stigma around mental illness for many people, especially older generations.
Reiterate that you respect their privacy and that anything they disclose will be confidential between the two of you unless and until your coworker wants someone else to know. For example, perhaps they’re dealing with something work-related, like harassment, that triggered a depressive episode. They may ask you later to give a statement.
Otherwise, demonstrate to your coworkers that you deserve their trust by refraining from discussing them and your concerns with anyone else at work.
Encourage Them to Seek Professional Help
If you’re reading this article, you probably noticed a list of helpful resources in your city and state for people with depression and other mental illnesses. You can give your coworker the link to Mental Health Hotline and let them take the initiative from there.
Your employer may have resources for your coworker, too. Many companies have Employee Assistance programs intended to support employees going through stress in their personal lives or who have mental health concerns. You may suggest that they take advantage of this employee benefit.
Finally, another reason to encourage your coworker to seek professional help is because many mental illnesses are considered protected disabilities by the ADA. Certain diagnosed mental illnesses are included in ADA protections, giving your coworker specific workplace rights and accommodations. However, they won’t have access to those protections or accommodations without a diagnosis from a licensed mental health professional.
Professional Depression Support Resources in Your Area
Even if your coworker doesn’t accept your help at once, simply pointing them to the Mental Health Hotline resources could help. Many people with depression may be unmotivated to seek treatment on their own or feel like giving up. This is a common symptom; the confidential support and advice from our mental health partners can get your coworker started on the right road to better health and happiness.