A bubble bath is not going to fix much. Nor is one “mental health day” on a calendar of hundreds of stress-filled workdays going to make it all better.

As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, it is critical to address the crisis of mental health for women in the workplace and also to acknowledge what Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the George Washington University School of Medicine and founder of Gemma, calls “faux self-care.”

“As May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, it is critical to address the crisis of mental health for women in the #workplace and also to acknowledge what @PoojaLakshmin, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the @GWSMHS and founder of @joingemma, calls “faux self-care.””

“Real self-care not only impacts us as individuals—it also has a cascade effect in our relationships, communities and workplaces and society at large. It is what we need not only to buffer ourselves but to change the systems that are not serving us as women,” Lakshmin writes in her new book, Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included).

The new 2023 Women @ Work study from Deloitte shows that fewer women—30%—are reporting feeling less burned out from work, but also “less comfortable discussing mental health struggles at work, and less supported by employers in this area than they have been in the past.”

The report states, “Over a third (35%) rate their mental well-being as poor/very poor and, similar to last year, around half of respondents report that their stress levels are higher than a year ago. Fewer women say they get adequate mental health support from their employers, and several factors point to persistent workplace mental health stigma.”

Work may be the cause of stress and mental health concerns, but it is not a place where women feel comfortable talking about it, with only 25% saying they are comfortable talking about in 2023, compared to 45% last year reporting the same. “More than half of women rate their mental health as a top concern,” the Deloitte study shows.

“#Work may be the cause of stress and #mentalhealth concerns, but it is not a place where women feel comfortable talking about it, with only 25% saying they are comfortable talking about in 2023, according to @Deloitte.”

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And for women who experience health issues related to menstruation or menopause, “nearly 20% who took time off for these health challenges did not disclose the real reason; 10% wouldn’t feel comfortable disclosing menopause as the reason they’re taking time off, 6% believe that disclosing in the past negatively impacted their career, and for 5%, their employer’s lack of support post disclosure was a factor in them leaving their job.”

In an interview with CTV, psychologist Natasha Williams says, “…employers need to ensure that the workplace feels safe enough for employees to disclose any issues and reach out for help if they need it.”

Williams adds, "Because a lot of times the stigma is, 'I feel that I'm going to have a negative reaction if I disclose that I have a mental health issue.’ So if I'm not feeling psychologically safe, it's not going to make any kind of sense to be able to say, 'You know what, I have a mental health issue, I need to get help.'"

According to SHRM, a new survey of 1,000 workers shows there is a growing and persistent concern among workers in the U.S. that their job is harmful to their mental health “and they are increasingly looking to their employer to make matters better. If conditions don't improve, they might leave for other opportunities, according to new research by SHRM.”

“According to @SHRM, a new survey of 1,000 workers shows there is a growing and persistent concern among #workers in the U.S. that their job is harmful to their #mentalhealth.”

SHRM reports, “One in three U.S. employees say their job has had a negative impact on their mental health over the past six months, with 30 percent saying their job has made them feel overwhelmed and 29 percent saying it's made them feel anxious at least once a week.”

Additionally, SHRM reports, “Research released by insurance company MetLife in March found a significant decline in overall holistic health—incorporating physical, financial, mental and social health—with financial and mental health in particular showing sharp declines. Meanwhile, health care firm Telus Health, which compiles a monthly mental health index to gauge how employees are feeling, found in April that inflation and financial pressures have put more than 65 percent of U.S. workers at high or moderate risk of mental health issues.”

Research on mental health concerns in the workplace are not always codified by gender or other demographic factors.

According to the federal Occupational Health And Safety organization, “Data now suggests the mental health concerns that are pervading all modern workplaces do have a link to physical safety outcomes and must be recognized, prioritized and addressed as their own hazard.”

The mental health effects from COVID—isolation, depression, stress, anxiety and more—manifested as workers juggled WFH with parenting, elderly care and home care duties.

“The #mentalhealth effects from COVID—isolation, depression, stress, anxiety and more—manifested as workers juggled #WFH with parenting, elderly care and home care duties. ”

OSH reports, “All Worked Up Report found that 40 percent of working Americans are suffering from depression or anxiety—figures notably higher than national averages. This baseline means the symptoms of depression and anxiety—such as loss of interest, inability to concentrate, sleep or eating changes and others—are likely impacting your workers and the way they’re able to carry out their work safely.”

CNN reports recently that after the first year of the pandemic, ”In 2021, about 1 in every 37 working adults experienced serious psychological distress, or negative feelings that were severe enough to impair social and occupational functioning and to require treatment,” according to the National Center for Health Statistics’ National Health Interview Survey.

With the high numbers of employees reporting mental health concerns affecting their jobs, leaders and colleagues can work to shift the culture to be one where people can discuss their concerns.

“With the high numbers of employees reporting #mentalhealth concerns affecting their jobs, leaders and colleagues can work to shift the culture to be one where people can discuss their concerns. #wellness”

OSH reports, “Start by incorporating conversations around mental health into your safety discussions with managers, helping them to understand the signs and symptoms of a struggling employee…Then, make sure to create a dialogue that involves all employees, providing information on the health and safety implications of working in hazardous environments when feeling down, as part of standard safety training.”

That will perhaps not only influence retention, but also be an incentive to join an organization that values and is transparent about mental health concerns for its employees.

Dennis Stolle, a social and personality psychologist, tells CNN, “Some of our American Psychological Association survey research has shown that people are increasingly placing a value on having mental health protections in the workplace, and this is something that they want to seek out when looking for new employment. I don’t think that is just a fad.”

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy writes in the New York Times recently, “At any moment, about one out of every two Americans is experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. This includes introverts and extroverts, rich and poor, and younger and older Americans. Sometimes loneliness is set off by the loss of a loved one or a job, a move to a new city, or health or financial difficulties — or a once-in-a-century pandemic.”

Other times, it’s hard to know how it arose but it’s simply there. One thing is clear: Nearly everyone experiences it at some point. But its invisibility is part of what makes it so insidious. We need to acknowledge the loneliness and isolation that millions are experiencing and the grave consequences for mental health, physical health and collective well-being.

The gravitas of these mental health concerns, are of course, not to be dismissed as being solved with a spa treatment or Fridays off from zoom meetings.

“The gravitas of these #mentalhealth concerns, are of course, not to be dismissed as being solved with a spa treatment or Fridays off from zoom meetings. #selfcare”

Black Love recommends several books for those wishing to address the self-care they need. “Self-Care for Black Women: 150 Ways to Radically Accept & Prioritize Your Mind, Body, & Soul,” by Oludara Adeeyo, offers suggestions and strategies for wellness.

“Between micro- and macro-aggressions at school, at work, and everywhere in between, it’s tough to prioritize physical and mental wellness as a Black woman, especially with a constant news cycle highlighting Black trauma,” according to Black Love.

Other highly recommended titles include: “Self-Love Workbook for Black Women: Empowering Exercises to Build Self-Compassion and Nurture Your True Self” by Rachel Johnson; and “The Sugar Jar: Create Boundaries, Embrace Self-Healing, and Enjoy the Sweet Things in Life” by Yasmine Cheyenne.

“@Blacklovedoc recommends several books for #Blackwomen wishing to address the #selfcare they need. “Self-Care for Black Women: 150 Ways to Radically Accept & Prioritize Your Mind, Body, & Soul,” by @OludaraAdeeyo, offers suggestions and strategies for wellness. ”

Lakshmin writes in her new book that in the face of distress, you can take on four steps toward wellness. Those are “set boundaries with yourself; change how you talk to yourself; bring in what matters to you; and know this is power—use it for good.”

According to Lakshmin, this real self-care “involves the internal process of setting boundaries, learning to treat yourself with compassion, making choices that bring you closer to yourself and living a life aligned with your values.”

Take The Lead leadership Takeaway:

“Real self-care involves the internal process of setting boundaries, learning to treat yourself with compassion, making choices that bring you closer to yourself and living a life aligned with your values.”

Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, MD, founder and CEO of Gemma

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About the Author

Michele Weldon is editorial director of Take The Lead, an award-winning author, journalist, emerita faculty in journalism at Northwestern University and a senior leader with The OpEd Project. @micheleweldon www.micheleweldon.com