Towards the end of last year, PLOS Mental Health announced its intentions to form an independent focus group, which would give people…
Journeys in Mental Health: I don’t want to talk about my mental health at work

Today is World Mental Health Day, for which the theme is ‘It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace’. For many, this involves a lot of open conversation about mental health with the people they work with. But whilst the shift to bringing our mental health into the workplace is both welcome and necessary for healthy progress, we should remain mindful that real psychological safety is about the choice to bring all of yourself to work as opposed to a pressure to share when it may be uncomfortable. In the latest blog from our ‘Journeys in Mental Health’ series, PLOS Mental Health hears from a contributor who benefits from not sharing anything about their mental health with their workplace.
The subject of mental health is one that is quite openly spoken about where I work. We have a lot of activities throughout the year from staff networks and there are a lot of very clear policies and sources of support available through our HR department. I think this is all really great and I am pleased and lucky to work in a place like this. But I personally benefit from choosing to not partake in any of the discussions and do not use any of the sources of support available. It’s enough for me to know that they are there and that I have the choice to use them and engage. But I simply don’t want to.
I come from a family that is not very good at speaking about mental health – whether it is their own or the mental health of others. I think it is a mix of generation and culture. Poor mental health is seen as a sign of weakness, or those with a mental health condition can’t be trusted. I hate that my family has this view. Especially because I have a long history of depression and anxiety. So you would think that finding myself in a workplace, where I spend so much time, that supports open mental health discussion would be like a gift to me and I would jump on the chance to engage. It’s not. I like everyone I work with but I do not want to share all of myself with them. I am not ashamed. If anything, my family’s attitudes have made me feel the opposite. I don’t think self-stigma plays a role in this either. I don’t feel like others I work with would judge me and I have been working here long enough for them to know that my mental health does not have an impact on my work. I simply feel more comfortable keeping some things to myself. There are parts of me that are mine alone and I want to protect them. I find that far more empowering than sharing them with others. I do appreciate that some people don’t have a choice really – that their mental health condition does impact them or their output in a way that others can pick up on and so it is important that they communicate their needs to get the support they deserve. And I realise I am so lucky to work in a place where I know I have the choice to share because there are so many stories I hear of workplace bullying or lack of psychological safety. But for me, who I am, where I am, my choice to keep things to myself gives me control and is the most comfortable option.

I don’t think anyone should be made to feel pressure one way or the other to share everything or nothing or anything in between. True freedom and empowerment is about having the choice to share however much we are comfortable with, knowing that we won’t be judged either way. I think the message I would give to others is really that they should not feel pressure to share a certain amount. It is OK not to share. It is OK to share. A healthy workplace should support all choices in this respect.
True freedom and empowerment is about having the choice to share however much we are comfortable with, knowing that we won’t be judged either way.
In order to ensure that workplaces can provide the environment that empowers employees to make their own choices about sharing their authentic selves, we need to understand what each individual workplace needs to make this happen. No two workplaces are the same. Through our Occupational Mental Health publications, PLOS Mental Health is trying to help inform policies that ensure psychological safety in the workplace globally.