It’s not always easy to tell when someone is struggling with their mental health at work. After all, much of it happens internally, right? Luckily, there are clear employee signs – both physical and emotional –that can help you recognize when someone is in trouble. Knowing how to spot mental health issues at work is key to offering timely support.
In a major study into workplace well-being by UK-based mental health charity Mind, 48% of the 44,000 workers surveyed said they had experienced a mental health problem while performing their current job – yet only half of those individuals had spoken to their employer about it.
Many employees hesitate to disclose mental health issues at work due to shame, vulnerability, or fear of overstepping workplace boundaries. But recognizing when someone is struggling at work and offering support can prevent a serious mental health issue from spiraling out of control.
Even if you don’t feel you can help someone directly, you can still point them in the direction of someone who can.
How to spot mental health issues at work
Mental health struggles often manifest in subtle ways before becoming obvious. That’s why knowing how to spot mental health issues at work is such a vital skill for managers and colleagues alike. By recognizing the early signs of poor mental health at work or identifying when someone is struggling with coworkers or their workload, you can offer timely support. Below are 10 critical employee signs to watch for—helping you understand when it’s time to step in and help a struggling team member before things escalate.
Important: Mental health issues at work can show up in changes to how someone behaves, communicates, works, or interacts with others. These signs do not always mean that an employee has a mental health condition, but they can indicate that someone is under stress, overwhelmed, or in need of support.
1. Untypical behavior or acting out of character
If a colleague is acting aggressively, becoming unusually quiet, or simply not behaving like themselves, pay attention. These could be signs that an employee is unhappy or signs of poor mental health at work. Men, for instance, may express anxiety and depression through anger rather than sadness, while typically calm colleagues may become irritable or aggressive.
2. Uncharacteristic or untidy appearance
Behavioral changes often show up physically. Neglecting grooming or dressing inappropriately may signal deeper struggles and are often employee signs of poor mental wellbeing.
3. Decreased productivity or concentration
Struggling employees often find it hard to concentrate and stay engaged. Signs of anxiety in employees might include difficulty completing tasks, low motivation, and declining productivity.
4. Change in sleeping patterns
Lack of sleep in the service of work assignments is frequently worn as a badge of honor in unhealthy work environments, but insomnia and difficulty sleeping are red flags for potential mental health issues. If a colleague regularly shares with you that they have a sleep deficit, it could indicate they’re struggling with mental health at work. Consider promoting workshops on sleep hygiene or recommending professional support.
5. Change in eating patterns
If someone skips lunch or avoids eating with co-workers – especially if they didn’t before – it may reflect social withdrawal or more serious issues like disordered eating. These behaviors are subtle signs an employee is unhappy.
6. Withdrawal from colleagues and work
Frequent short-term absences might suggest that an employee is having difficulty coping. Recognizing absenteeism as a potential sign of mental health struggles helps you understand how to help a struggling team member.
7. Increased absenteeism
An employee taking regular, short-term absences may indicate that they are struggling to cope with an underlying mental health matter.
8. Changes in working patterns
Arriving late or leaving early can signal more than poor time management—it may mean an employee is barely keeping afloat while dealing with mental health challenges.
9. Irrational fears, paranoia, or anxiety
Excessive worries about job security, paranoia about colleagues, or irrational fears about unrelated matters are often signs of anxiety in employees. These should be taken seriously as they frequently point to underlying mental health concerns.
10. Substance use/misuse
If you notice substance misuse, it’s important to look beyond the stigma. This can be a clear indicator that a colleague is in urgent need of help and is often a last-resort coping mechanism for someone seriously struggling at work.
If you notice any of these employee signs, it’s time to reach out. Even if their behavior isn’t directly related to mental health, asking how they’re doing and whether they feel happy with their work responsibilities can open important conversations.
Remember that three out of four people say they’re fine even when they’re struggling, so you may need to ask a colleague how they’re doing more than once.
What should managers do if an employee shows signs of poor mental health?
If you notice several warning signs, don’t try to diagnose the employee. Focus on creating a safe, supportive conversation. Be mindful of timing and setting Choose a private moment, avoid raising sensitive concerns in front of others, and make sure there is enough time for the conversation.
- Share concrete observations: Mention specific changes in behavior, performance, or communication without making assumptions.
- Ask open questions: For example, “How have things been for you lately?” or “Is there anything at work that feels difficult right now?”
- Listen without judgment: Give the person space to respond and avoid minimizing or immediately fixing the situation.
- Offer practical support: Discuss workload, priorities, flexibility, or other adjustments that could reduce pressure.
- Point to professional help: Encourage them to reach out to HR, make use of offerings like EAPs or a mental health platform like nilo.
If they don’t want to talk right away, respect that. It does not mean the topic is closed forever. Let them know you are available and check in again later.
What else can companies do to support employee who are struggling with mental health issues?
Supporting employees with mental health challenges requires more than reacting when someone is already in crisis. Companies need to create structures that make it easier to notice early warning signs, start supportive conversations, and guide employees toward the right help.
Team leads should check in regularly with their teams, both in group settings and in one-to-one conversations. Not everyone feels comfortable talking about mental health openly, so private check-ins and anonymous pulse surveys can help employees share how they are really doing. Tools like Leapsome or Peakon can support this process by making stress levels, engagement, and workload concerns more visible.
t is also important to remember that employees may not turn to HR first. A 2018 survey by Accenture revealed that 61% of employees who shared their mental health struggles did so first with a close colleague rather than with HR. Just 15% of the UK employees surveyed approached an HR team member or workplace wellbeing specialist first. This highlights why it’s crucial for everyone to know how to help a struggling team member and where to direct them for professional help.
Managers and employees need to know how to respond when someone opens up, what not to say, and where to direct them for professional support. Building such a culture where conversations about mental health are normalized is the most effective preventive step any organization can take.
Companies can support employees by:
- Normalizing mental health conversations through leadership role modelling and clear communication.
- Offering regular check-ins where workload, stress, and wellbeing can be discussed safely.
- Training managers and employees (e.g. through Mental-Health-First-Aider trainings) to recognize early warning signs and respond without judgment.
- Creating clear referral paths so employees know where to find help, whether through HR, an EAP, or a mental health platform like nilo.
- Making support easy to access with confidential, low-threshold options such as 1:1 sessions, workshops, self-guided exercises, or digital mental health resources.
FAQs: How to support employees struggling with their mental health at work
-
What are signs that an employee is struggling with their mental health?
-
Signs that an employee may be struggling with their mental health include
- acting out of character
- withdrawing from colleagues
- declining productivity
- changes in appearance
- sleep or eating patterns
- increased absence
- anxiety
- irritability
- or substance misuse.
The most important signal is often a noticeable change from the person’s usual behavior.
-
What should a manager do if they notice signs of poor mental health?
-
Managers should respond with care, not assumptions. A good first step is to check in privately, describe what they have noticed without judgment, and ask how the employee is doing. It helps to share concrete observations, ask open questions, listen without judgment, respect boundaries, offer practical support, and point the employee toward professional help such as HR, an EAP, or a mental health platform like nilo.
-
How can companies help employees who are struggling with mental health?
-
The most effective support starts before employees reach a crisis point. Companies should invest in prevention by providing early and easy access to professional mental health support, such as EAPs or platforms like nilo.
Moreover, companies should normalize conversations about mental health so employees feel safe speaking up. Managers, HR teams, and employees can be trained to recognize warning signs, respond appropriately, and know where to direct someone for help.
