Generally, one in five New Zealanders will experience a mental
health problem this year, and more than 50% will go through mental
distress or mental illness at some point in their lives.
We see in the media that, when it comes to men, they are
generally less likely to talk about their mental health and can be
reluctant to reach out for help or support. This is something that
employers need to be alive to when considering the health and
safety of all their employees.
It is important that employers monitor employees' stress
levels and encourage them to speak out if they are not coping. It
is common for some employees to feel pressure to outperform others
in the workplace, and, therefore, overload themselves with work.
While some level of workplace stress is normal, if an employee is
continually stressed with little time to recover, it can lead to
burnout, fatigue, and/or depression. Employers should monitor
employees for signs of stress and ensure that employees
