Protecting your mental health at work

The well-being of employees has, rightly, become a concern and a priority for employers.

Not only linked to sustained productivity in the workplace.

But also when protecting individuals and equipping them with opportunities to access support for dealing with stress, coping with change, and identifying the early signs of declining mental health.

That’s why National Stress Awareness Day is taking place on 5th November 2025.

To increase awareness about the impact of stress on individuals’ physical and mental well-being. With emphasis on the importance of self-care and stress reduction techniques.

This type of observance becomes all the more important against the backdrop of societal pressures.

Such as the cost of living crisis, an increase in inflation, and an additional workload due to a lack of resources across sectors.

It’s hardly surprising that workers are experiencing both stress and pressure to perform, or even overperform.

Which is why protecting your mental health is a necessity.

Read our article to find out more about how stress can impact you and your mental health.

Feel more confident about spotting the signs of declining mental health, and consider some strategies to protect your mental health within the workplace.

Recognising the signs

Whilst everyone experiences stress and mental health differently and individuals will be best placed to identify their own concerns.

The following can be indicators that your mental health is starting to suffer:

Loss of motivation: whilst it is common for employees to go through periods of increases and decreases in their motivation to complete different work tasks, ongoing procrastination and a decrease in productivity can indicate a change in your mental health.
Tiredness or fatigue: again, modern life can be exhausting, with societal pressures and expectations, especially in relation to social media, social commitments and sustained performance in the workplace. However, if you or a colleague are consistently showing signs or tiredness or fatigue, including a visible change in appearance, physical symptoms or behavioural changes, then these could be indicators of burnout caused by stress.
Disinterest in work activities: whether it’s withdrawing from conversations in the staff room, not contributing ideas in a meeting, or simply not showing enthusiasm for ongoing or future projects or tasks, someone who appears to have lost their passion for their role and responsibilities may be experiencing a shift in their mental health.
Changes in behaviour: whilst all of the above may involve changes in behaviour(s), things to look out for might include you or a colleague appearing anxious or withdrawn, an increase in sickness absence or being late to work, changes in the standard of your/their work output, and changes in your/their usual behaviour, mood or interactions with colleagues.

Having outlined some of the potential signs, both when protecting your own mental health at work and a consideration of your colleagues’ well-being, it is still important to acknowledge that some or all of the above might be related to factors outside of the workplace or may be one-off or short-term issues.

Regardless of longevity, it is vital to consider how to protect your mental health at work.

To avoid issues escalating, and therefore, we have suggested some strategies below.

Strategies to help protect your mental health at work

Be open and honest

Whilst it can be tempting to shy away from talking about how you are experiencing stress in the workplace, and you might have concerns about how this is perceived by others.

Being open with colleagues, and especially your line manager, about how you are experiencing the workplace is crucial.

Start by identifying your own needs by asking yourself what you currently need and what you are likely to need in the future.

What actions can be taken by you to address your concerns?

What steps can be taken by your colleagues to support and enable you?

Having established what is going to be helpful.

Ensure you schedule a meeting with your manager to have an honest discussion about what support needs to be implemented.

In addition to establishing your needs, it might also be important to set yourself boundaries.

If the pressure of working towards tight deadlines, or a colleague not “pulling their weight” with a work task or project, is adding to the stress you are experiencing, ensure you have clear boundaries in place.

Don’t be tempted to work through your lunch break or stay behind at the end of the working day to meet the deadline or cover your colleague.

Instead, ensure clear communication about your own and others’ expectations.

Employer support and benefits

Whether you are looking to secure a new role or you are experiencing difficulties in your current workplace.

Ensure you familiarise yourself with the support and benefits available to employees.

Reviewing organisation-wide benefits, such as annual leave allowance, access to employee relations/well-being services, recognition schemes, and a commitment to a work-life balance, could make all the difference to protecting your mental health at work.

Many organisations have invested in training from Mental Health First Aid England.

Providing that several employees have qualified in mental health first aid.

This includes the provision of advice and setting standards on mental health in the workplace.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance

Whilst it can be tempting, especially when experiencing pressure and stress in the workplace.

Try to focus on the demands of your job.

Taking some time away from the organisation can offer a helpful “reset” for both your physical and mental health.

Ensure that you are factoring in regular periods of annual leave to help maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Offering a vital opportunity to engage in activities that you enjoy outside of the work environment.

Furthermore, if you are in a workplace where there is an expectation to largely be on site, but there is some flexibility to work from home on occasion, ensure you discuss this with your manager.

Sometimes, not having the added pressure and travel time for a busy work commute might make all the difference to your mental health in relation to your work day.

Create a sense of belonging

Sometimes employees can experience poor mental health when they are feeling isolated in the workplace.

Whether this is because there isn’t the opportunity to engage in social conversations or activities.

Or because employees are not all working on site / in the same location.

It is important to keep your team motivated and to foster a sense of belonging.

From scheduling regular team meetings or development days to administering a clear recognition scheme for employees to celebrate one another’s achievements, ensuring individuals experience social connectedness is essential.

You might also consider offering mentorship opportunities to employees where more experienced staff offer advice and guidance to new employees.

Ensuring they have a point of contact within your organisation that is, potentially, outside of their immediate team structure.

Overall, as we look to observe National Stress Awareness Day this year.

Remember it is important to look after your mental health at work and to seek help when needed.

To help protect your mental health, aim to stay in contact with people.

Talking to people you work with or friends about how you are feeling.

Focus on honouring personal and professional boundaries you have set to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Take the time to reflect on what helps you feel more positive and more confident in addressing your concerns.