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Ask HN: How do you communicate (if at all) about mental health at work?

by falafelite on 2/21/23, 6:00 PM with 2 comments

My last place of work was very open and understanding about mental health. If someone was having a tough time, they were supported, deadlines were pushed back if needed, there was enough redundancy that one person having interrupted productivity didn't mean a project was going to fail.

I don't know how my current place of work thinks about mental health, and it's a very very small team. I am having a harder time the last few weeks, but I am also a bottleneck (i.e. the only person fluent in certain things) and there is a non-negotiable deadline.

All to say, I'm curious about other experiences dealing with this stuff. Do you say anything? Do you just wait to get through it and hope the lower output goes unnoticed? I'm all ears, happy to learn from other points of view and experiences.

  • by gsatic on 2/21/23, 6:25 PM

    I just make up a story and take time off. There are so many unpredictable ways work gets delayed no matter what deadlines are set. So don't worry abt the deadlines.

    Most ppl don't know what they are doing or how to do it well, when it comes to dealing with other ppls mental health issues. And many make things worse with their "good intentions". So don't involve them unless they are good friends, or there is evidence they know what they are doing.

  • by throwawaysalome on 2/21/23, 6:08 PM

    Pro tip: if you're feeling depressed or anxious, tell yourself to knock it off.