Work Related Stress or Common Mental Health Problems.

Work-related stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work and Mental Health is related to how the individual feels, thinks or behaves. Common mental health problems (CMHP)  are often very successfully treated by GP and unlikely to involve a psychiatrist.

Anxiety is a dreadful feeling one gets when worried, uneasy or distressed about something that could happen or may never happen.

On the other hand, feelings of extreme sadness, despair or inadequacy that last for a long time is recognised as Depression.

Most common mental health problems are mild. Anxiety and depression are the most common and often due to difficult life events such as loss of a family member, moving home or job insecurity. These are usually short term and medication prescribed by a family doctor is usually adequate and effective. Failure to improve may lead to referral to a specialist

Sometimes work related stress and mental health problems go together and the symptoms are similar. In both, a person can be fatigued, have loss of appetite and become very tearful. In addition work related stress can trigger mental health problems. If some one has existing mental health problems, then work related stress can make it worse.

The difference between the two is that the causes are different. Work related stress is caused by a reaction to events and experiences at work but Common mental health problems are caused by outside factors and these can be divorce, post natal depression, bereavement or problems within the family.

Companies can improve work stress by improving working conditions and good liaison with employees, and common mental health problems are usually treated by family doctors.

If you have either of these or both, take action. Do something about it.

Dr. Phil Hariram.