Mental health at work: signs to notice and where to get help

Signs to notice

Everyone has hard weeks. What matters is when feelings are intense, last a long time or get in the way of daily life. WHO describes a depressive episode as a low mood or loss of interest that lasts most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. Other symptoms can include:

• Poor concentration
• Excessive guilt or low self-worth
• Hopelessness about the future
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Disrupted sleep, or changes in appetite or weight
• Very low energy or tiredness

WHO describes anxiety disorders as fear or worry that is intense and out of proportion, often lasting several months. People may also avoid situations that trigger it. Other symptoms can include:

• Trouble focusing or making decisions
• Irritability, tension or restlessness
• Nausea or stomach discomfort
• A racing or pounding heartbeat, sweating or shaking
• Sleep problems, or a sense of panic or doom

This list is not a way to diagnose yourself or anyone else. A racing heart or chest symptoms can have other causes too, so call 998 for severe chest pain or trouble breathing.

What at work can make things harder

WHO lists a range of risks to mental health at work, including:

• Excessive workloads or pace, and understaffing
• Long, unsocial or inflexible hours
• Little control over how your job is designed or how much you do
• Unsafe or poor physical conditions
• Violence, harassment, bullying, discrimination or exclusion
• Unclear roles, job insecurity, inadequate pay and conflict between home and work

WHO estimates that depression and anxiety cost 12 billion working days every year, so you are far from alone if work is affecting you.

Where to get help in the UAE

• Emergency: call 998 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
• Abu Dhabi: the Department of Health has activated 800 SAKINA (800-725462), a 24-hour line in Arabic and English, for concerns including anxiety, panic, stress and sleep difficulties.
• Dubai: Itma'en on 800506 is free, in Arabic and English, every day from 9:00 am to midnight. It is open to citizens, residents and visitors. Counsellors give guidance, and cases that need medical follow-up are referred to specialist teams.
• Other emirates: the UAE government portal says mental health services can be reached through Emirates Health Services.
• A doctor or counsellor: WHO says effective treatments exist for mild, moderate and severe depression, and that people with symptoms of anxiety should seek care. Psychological treatments such as talk therapy are a key part of care. A professional can tell you what fits your situation.

medicAI offers private video sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist. Those professionals work at independent licensed facilities, which are responsible for your care. Video sessions are not for emergencies.

If you are worried about a colleague

You do not need to have the right words. Pick a private moment, say what you have noticed, listen, and ask how you can help. If they talk about suicide, take it seriously. WHO advises people with these thoughts to talk to someone they trust and to a health worker, and to contact emergency services or a crisis line if they are in immediate danger. In the UAE, that means calling 998.

What employers can do

WHO recommends assessing and reducing risks at work, for example through flexible working and clear ways of handling violence and harassment. It recommends training managers to recognise and respond to distress, and adjusting work when someone needs it. Examples include flexible hours, extra time for tasks, time off for health appointments and regular supportive meetings. It also recommends return-to-work programmes, and involving workers in decisions.