As someone who struggles with mental health issues, the fight to add mental health days in the workplace has been a movement I am proud to be a part of. Alongside the 9.8 million of Americans who suffer from a mental illness are those who recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health, and are fighting for the right for 'mental health days' in the workplace. Believe it or not, our mental health has a bigger impact on our physical health than you might think. Individuals living with a mental health issue are more likely to experience chronic medical conditions, as well as die on average 25 years earlier than those who don't have problems with their mental health.
Compared to most countries, Americans work on average more days and longer hours throughout the year. We also take less vacation days, and retire at an older age. These works habits start to weigh on us and the stress builds up. 83% of American report they feel stressed in their workplace. Studies have show that stress can lead to mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and even substance abuse. Stress releases a chemical called cortisol. Cortisol directly affects another chemical called dopamine. The changes in dopamine levels in your brain are seen in those suffering with the mental illnesses previously mentioned.
Most of us already know that stress can also impact us physically. We become more prone to things like headaches, changes in eating and sleeping patterns, moodiness, and even impacts on your reproductive systems, which can cause them to stop working normally. Stress can also cause us to physically get sick with a cold or flu. Overtime, stress can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other illnesses. Like the physical strains stress can have on your body, it can also lead to mental health concerns which sometimes gets overlooked.
The fight for mental health days in the workforce is something we should all be rooting for. Whether or not you personally suffer from a mental illness doesn't mean you shouldn't be trying to help. 1 in 4 Americans struggle with their mental health, and having this in the workforce can drastically help someone. I struggle through my depression every day, and having this option available to me could be something that could help not only my mental health, but my physical health as well. Mental illness is not a joke or something that's made up. It's real, and it can be scary. This is one little step everyone can take to help someone who really needs it.
