Brought to you by Manhattan Mental Health Counseling:

Navigating the world of work in the modern age can come with its fair share of challenges. Maintaining mental clarity and calmness amidst tight deadlines, constant connectivity, and evolving work responsibilities can be an uphill battle and one that can often lead to stress and burnout.

However, in recent years, there has been greater awareness of the importance of mental health and the impact this can have on individuals’ personal as well as their professional lives. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 12 billion working days are lost globally every year due to depression and anxiety at a staggering cost of $1 trillion per year in lost productivity.

These figures highlight the pressing need to prioritize mental health alongside career development. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the ways mental health can impact career success and the steps to take to manage these challenges more effectively.

Productivity

When faced with mental health challenges, individuals can often feel fatigued, burnt out, and lacking in energy. These symptoms can make it difficult to perform well at work and to maintain the necessary motivation to stay focused and productive.

This has been confirmed by studies that show a clear link between poor mental health, typically manifesting as depression or anxiety, and lost productivity. When mental health challenges become a significant issue in an individual’s life they can result in absenteeism, leading to a further decline in productivity.

Relationship Building

Whether it’s climbing the corporate ladder, attracting new clients, or handling customer queries, career success depends on the relationships we build with others. However, mental health issues, such as social anxiety and mood disorders, can severely impede our ability to effectively interact with others.

These conditions can make it difficult to communicate our needs, express our ideas, and build networks that can assist us in our career development. As a result, many people can feel isolated, misunderstood, and limited in their ability to progress at work.

Decision-Making

Sound decision-making can help individuals make smart decisions regarding various aspects of their careers. From directing projects and managing client expectations to maintaining work-life balance and steering the trajectory of their career, clear and effective decision-making is key to career success.

Unfortunately, mental health challenges can interfere with a person’s ability to maintain the clarity and perspective needed to make good decisions. This can be especially so with stress-related disorders such as anxiety, panic disorder, and depression.

A study by Walden University found that stress can affect decision-making by limiting the ability to make novel decisions and adapt to change. Their findings further confirmed that chronic stress can alter brain chemistry, leading to a state where the brain is unable to access the information it needs to make logical decisions.

Support in Managing Mental Health

By seeking professional support for their mental health issues, individuals can learn coping strategies to help them manage difficult thought patterns and emotional states enabling them to be more effective in every aspect of their lives.

If you’re struggling with mental health issues, you may consider online therapy that takes insurance or local mental health services in your area.