Mental illness or depression in Singapore is often a taboo topic at work. It’s something that people try to hide from their coworkers and their boss, because they fear being viewed differently or putting their job in jeopardy.
#1. Hiding depression can be a barrier to recovery.
When you have to focus energy on hiding your depression from others, you are actually heaping more stress and anxiety on yourself. That can make your condition worse. The stress of keeping the secret and the inner war of “do I tell or not?” only makes your depression deeper and creates a barrier to your full recovery.
#2. Hiding depression robs you of a chance to prove yourself.
Telling people that you have bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or depression in Singapore may change the way people view you. It may make other people view you as weak, less able to do your job. It’s unfair, but it’s the way human beings often think.
Suppose you went ahead and told your boss about your struggle with depression or mental health in Singapore— and then you went on to do amazing things for your company. People around you will be more likely to admire you when they see you doing well in spite of your struggle with mental illness. When you’re the most productive member of your team, or you come up with the best ideas, or you take on a new project and guide it to success, you are proving that someone with mental illness can be an asset in the workplace, not a burden.
#3. Hiding depression feeds the stigma.
The more people know about the prevalence of depression in Singapore, the more likely they are to accept those who have it. When you hide your depression, you are saying that you are ashamed of it and that depression is something reprehensible. When you step forward and declare your condition, you’re becoming part of the movement to increase awareness and acceptance for mental illness.
#4. Hiding depression prevents you from accessing a potential support system.
It’s possible that your employer and colleagues will react better than you expect when you tell them of your depression. If you have close friends at work, those friends can support you and help out when you’re having a bad bout of depression. Your boss or some of your coworkers may actually have mental health issues as well, and your courage may give them the strength to share their own struggle.
Support from Your Psychiatrist in Singapore
If you’re still conflicted about whether or not to disclose your depression to your boss, discuss the matter with your psychiatrist or psychologist in Singapore. At Adelphi Psych Medicine Clinic, we provide plenty of different therapies and treatments to suit your life and work schedule; and our mental health professionals are happy to talk with you about mental health in the workplace.
News Feed from Adelphi Psych Medicine Clinic
Source: The New Paper, 30 Sept 2017
