According to Forbes, you should not be misled by how the employee seems happy at first sight, talks to colleagues and smiles. Mental health problems need not necessarily be so obvious. Below are some of the most typical traits of a person experiencing such issues.
- Absenteeism. Being sick more often and taking a lot of vacation or sick days are common signs of a mental health problem. Mind and body go hand in hand, which is why someone with mental health issues is often suffering from some other complaint, ranging from headaches to troubles with the musculoskeletal system.
- Change in habits. This can be any deviation from the habits and system the employee used to adhere to. They might start arriving late at work or be taking ages to respond to e-mails.
- Inability to set things in order. This is meant both abstractly and literally. The given person might start having problems organising their work as well as keeping their desk tidy.
- Low energy. Lack of enthusiasm, low energy, withdrawal and apathy. This is another way in which anxiety, depression and other psychological problems manifest themselves.
- Unusual displays of emotions. The employee might also start unusually to show emotions. They might have a go at someone for no apparent reason, or they cease to care about certain things they used to be very particular about.
- Unwillingness to talk about the future. Depression is sometimes defined as the inability to create a future. If someone shows no interest in the future, no willingness to take strategic decisions and is generally indifferent to what will happen next, you should beware.
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