Stress & Mental Health at Work
Long hours, tight deadlines, physical pain, time away from family, job insecurity and a culture of “toughing it out” all take a toll. Stress doesn’t just feel bad: it makes people distracted, tired and more likely to get hurt. Taking care of your mental health is part of working safely.
- All workers
- Supervisors
Common sources of stress
- Long hours, overtime and travel
- Seasonal or unsteady work and money worries
- Chronic pain from injuries and physical work
- Pressure to finish fast, or conflicts with supervisors or coworkers
- Witnessing a serious injury or death
- Problems at home
Warning signs
- Trouble sleeping, or sleeping too much
- Irritability, anger or withdrawing from others
- Drinking more or using drugs to cope
- Trouble concentrating, more mistakes or near misses
- Headaches, stomach problems, constant tiredness
- Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
Ways to cope
- Talk to someone: a friend, coworker, family member, union rep or counselor.
- Protect your sleep. See Shift Work & Sleep.
- Move your body outside of work in ways that feel good: walking, stretching, sports.
- Limit alcohol and avoid using drugs to cope.
- Take real breaks during the day, and use your time off.
- Get help for pain instead of pushing through it. Untreated pain wears you down.
Employee assistance programs
Many employers and unions offer an employee assistance program (EAP): free, confidential counseling and help with stress, money, family and substance use problems. Ask HR or your union hall. Using it is private and won’t be shared with your boss.
Supporting coworkers
If a coworker seems different (quiet, angry, drinking more, giving away tools), ask how they’re doing, and listen. You don’t have to fix it; helping them connect to support matters.
If you or someone else is thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or call 911 in an emergency. See Mental Health & Suicide Prevention.
Standards & references
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