Employee performance can be disrupted due to depression, this is the role of the company

How well the employees perform in completing the project is an asset for the company and more or less contributes to the company's reputation in the business world. To achieve this, it is not uncommon for employees to struggle tooth and nail to meet the expectations of bosses and higher-ups as well as struggling with stress at home.

Ironically, the mental health of workers is often neglected. It can be seen from how many offices allow employees to take “sick leave” to recover from stress - believe me, you can still count fingers on one hand. Even though it is important for officials and supervisors to know and be aware of signs of depression shown by employees so that they can act immediately to provide appropriate help.

Unmanageable stress in the office can lead to clinical depression or worsen it, which over time can hurt employee performance and the company's credibility in the long run.

Employees are reluctant to seek treatment related to their mental health for fear of the bad stigma they face

The Indonesian people still think mental disorders are just diseases suffered by patients at the Mental Hospital. In fact, mental disorders can attack anyone, including ourselves and those closest to us. Mental disorders are also not always "crazy", aka schizophrenia, and can appear in other forms, such as depression and anxiety disorders.

Employees' reluctance to seek treatment can also come from the stigma that mental illness cannot be cured. There are also many people who are not aware or even cover up their symptoms of depression because they are ashamed to be considered weak, have no steel mind. In fact, mental disorders can be completely cured if detected early and treated appropriately.

On the other hand, limited access to health can hinder diagnosis and treatment. Although the government has actually facilitated Indonesian citizens to consult a doctor about symptoms of depression using the BPJS, not all puskesmas and referral hospitals have a psychologist. This is what makes employees' hands seem tied, they don't know where to look for support. This is where the company s duty to step in to ensure the health and performance of employees.

What are the signs and characteristics of depression in employees?

The signs of depression are much more complicated than the symptoms of stress. The onset can be gradual and persistent, making it difficult to really know when depression first hit. The following are various symptoms of depression that usually occur.

Employees lose work motivation

Classic depression symptoms are usually characterized by loss of enthusiasm and motivation, a constant bad mood, and decreased energy and stamina for activity. For bosses or bosses, try to see if your employees are suddenly unproductive or enthusiastic about the assigned task? If so, then it could be one of the early signs of depression to watch out for.

Productivity is reduced

Depression can cause a person to have difficulty concentrating and remembering, making decisions, while continuing to have negative thoughts, including irritability, anger, and irritability. If employees start always darting from deadline that superiors give to doing things carelessly at work, especially if this has never happened before, it never hurts to try reach out to the employee and ask about his condition.

Pull away suddenly

Depression in general can also be characterized by withdrawing from social and family circles, and always feeling sad as if there is no hope. Have you seen or received reports that any of your employees have suddenly stopped dealing with coworkers and prefer to be alone all the time?

Absence

Managers, bosses, or company leaders must start to be vigilant when employees start to stay absent for days because of illness or maybe even without special reasons. Depression can make it difficult for a person to carry out his daily activities because he is always shrouded in feelings of misery, sadness, and hopelessness. Depression also causes a person to lose interest in things he used to enjoy. Absence from work may also indicate that he is thinking or trying to commit suicide as a result of his depression.

Then, how can the boss help employees who are depressed?

Unfortunately, at times depression can easily be mistaken for laziness or a bad work ethic. That's why many employees choose not to talk about their mental health for fear of being labeled "crazy" and losing their job.

If so, the boss or other co-employees can reduce mental health risks by following the steps below:

Create an open environment

Try getting workers to talk about the stress, anxiety or depression they are having. Create a culture of mutual support, where employees understand that they are not alone in facing problems.

Respect their confidentiality

When employees open up to talk about problems they are facing, you must remember that mental health information is very sensitive. Don't pass information on to other people unless they give them permission to do so, because they have trusted you to keep it secret.

Don't make assumptions just yet

After that, try not to influence or make assumptions after they tell the problem. The reason is, many depressed people are still able to manage their condition and carry out their roles properly. Instead, ask how you can help and explore options to make the work they do easier.

Offer flexible work options

If your employees are depressed, you can give them flexible work options. Let them work from home, take a nap, or offer to work fewer hours for some time. You can also allow them to take temporary sick leave by reason of improving their mental health so that employee performance will improve once they return to work.