Trauma in the Workplace
Trauma in the workplace is misunderstood. Our society has this mindset that we are supposed to go to work, make money, and go home. But we don’t realize how much certain experiences at work impact us. Maybe we do understand but we don’t want to admit it. But I’m here to say work trauma is real, not enough people are talking about it and we have to start.
We all know certain occupations like firefighters, law enforcement, and the medical field have high rates of trauma. Trauma frequently occurs in these fields, yet we don’t talk about it enough. I don’t even want to think about how it felt to be a healthcare professional during the pandemic. I think the reason we don’t talk about this is that it’s hard to think about, let alone discuss. But too many people are struggling in silence, especially in the last few years.
I still get that feeling when I think about those dark, early days of the pandemic. I know I’ve witnessed things I thought I’d never see and it’s still such a foreign concept to me. It’s such an extraordinarily difficult reality to grasp. I know that those memories will forever be hardwired in us.
Workplace trauma can be caused by many issues such as job insecurity, workplace bullying, unexpected changes, and toxic environments. It’s important to note that everyone responds to situations differently, so we have to be mindful of how we respond to people. Trauma at work can lead to anxiety, depression, sleep issues, anger, and burnout. Of course, these are issues that can heavily impact your personal life.
Spreading awareness about workplace trauma is imperative to positive change. Employees need to feel supported and that starts at the top. In 2021 and 2022, people became heavily focused on mental health in the workplace. Companies were given a plethora of resources to get help. However, as time went on these wonderful resources began to fade. But the reality is that people still need them and the conversation needs to continue. Although we don’t want to harp on the pandemic, we still need to understand the ongoing impact of that trauma. We also need to understand that mental health is a topic that should be addressed regardless of what’s going on what’s not going on in our world.
I think that it would be beneficial if leaders and HR professionals brought these conversations back to the forefront of their organizations. I understand that business can be all about the bottom line, so here’s a startling statistic. According to WHO, “globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety at a cost of US$ 1 trillion per year in lost productivity.” Employees who feel safe and supported are more likely to have better attendance and productivity. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Keep spreading awareness on social media and among people in your life. Try to work on being that safe person to talk to. Everyone needs someone they go to that they can trust. Toxic workplaces that stigmatize mental health and trauma hurt everyone involved and lead to a malfunctioning business structure. Everyone benefits when people support each other instead of trying to knock each other down. And if you are in a position of power, please be mindful that your team might need help and that’s ok. Let’s restart the conversation on awareness again!
