Aging Employees and Mental Health

I have brain-stuttered for a couple weeks trying to write this article with the right mixture of empathy, sensitivity, and truth, while offering help and guidance in any way I can. But there are so many paths, so many different conditions and so many environmental contributors to our mental health that is very hard to speak in generalities-especially due to the pandemic. Besides, I am just another soul amongst the masses beyond, "The Silver Line." I am not a mental health professional. However, like many of us, our battle scars also carry an understanding that does not come with a certificate or diploma.?Life experience is not always represented with a written plaque or advanced sheepskin.?

Mental health issues in any form have had a stigma in society for millennia.?Until relatively recently, the most convenient and socially accepted option was to ostracize said "sick" individual into a psych ward or institution.?It has been the de facto and artificially manufactured expiration date for many in the workplace, especially the aging workforce. It has been the topic of whispered content and knowing glances at the proverbial water-cooler or over lunch. To openly admit to a mental health diagnosis, even as simple as anxiety, A.D.D., or even depression was seen as a weakness and therefore a reason for termination, or at least a tally against an individual in competition amongst the rest, an unfair and unjust assumption. In reality, most of us have had or currently battle some shade of mental unwellness. When we are physically unwell we are treated to combat the illness, why shouldn't this be the same solution for one's mental health? The first rule of getting something right is admitting you are wrong. We were wrong on mental illness. It seems society is trying to change this perspective. Good for us... all of us.

From a purely business standpoint, productivity in the workplace suffered by 74% when poor mental health was an issue. So, this is not just a human issue, it is also a productivity issue of an alarming degree and should be addressed accordingly.?This once in a century pandemic has both produced and escalated mental health issues, not just in those who have previously battled mental health, but also in those who have never experienced mental health struggles. Mental health decline is also a pandemic, and it needs to be fought.?

Mental health challenges affect all ages, it does not discriminate; however, workplaces sometimes do--and those of us with a little more wrinkles and gray hair are prone to be scrutinized a little harsher than a twenty-something fresh out of school.?Those with contributing factors that include, but not limited to, the perception of aging minds being less sharp, less "well," unfortunately, prevent people in these categories from seeking help for fear of pointing out a trait against them.?They fear the stigma will lead to dismissal.?The sad, ironic reality is, that without intervention, their lack of productivity due to their own struggle will probably be the reason for dismissal.?Management and HR -- Take notes -- Be more present and proactive in offering assistance, not only is it morally just, but it is also beneficial to everyone at large. Would you have let someone like Albert Einstein go? Because even Einstein himself had his bout with mental illness.

Note:?I would love to hear from HR professionals, Executives and others regarding steps they have taken within their organization to proactively address mental health within their corporate communities – and with their families.

Ironically, the pandemic has helped a bit--even though it has also accelerated and enhanced most mental health challenges. Most everyone has had their bouts of depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders during this time.?While the pandemic has produced increased stress, anxiety, and depression, it has also forced us to stand back, pause, and reassess our behaviors, routines, our pace, and of course our own mental perspectives that we may have been too consumed BC (before Covid) to have realized. Public Healthcare Service Announcements have done a decent job of letting us know that "Not being okay, is okay." We also have come to learn from shared experiences of those around us that even the deepest of depression can be overcome, regardless of how we may feel at its depths. Sharing personal experiences is a human characteristic and coping mechanism that helps inspire and encourage those with similar feelings to keep moving. There is hope.?There is something within all of us that sometimes needs to hear that they are not alone. Maybe my story will help someone who is reading this.

A few years back, our family bonded together to help our daughter fight her last battles against Cystic Fibrosis. Our adult children moved back into our house, while my wife and I moved up to Cleveland Clinic where our daughter spent 2 months on ECMO before receiving her double lung transplant. The details of this story are extraordinarily long and complicated and maybe someday I will write a book about the experience of how the death of one child, in a prolonged battle against disease, can both adversely and positively affect the entire family. It remains my bedrock, my foundation, and my cornerstone for survival. I insist that if she could go through what I witnessed, how can I fret about my daily grind?

Tom Petty wrote, "Most things I worry about, never happen anyway..." That is very true, but it is still quite natural to have anxiety, fears, and doubt within our depression. Those can be a very heavy lift to carry at one time. You could benefit from counseling, talking with friends, spouses, professional counselors, and even your employer.?

It is estimated that a full 1/3 of the populace has struggles with mental issues at any single time. Those numbers are consistently agreed to be much higher during the pandemic. The aging IT professional is no different. Mental health challenges spares no demographic. We get depressed, have anxiety attacks, suffer from a varied number of phobias -- as do the younger members of this populace. We have distinctly unique challenges, however. If we hint that we are depressed or feeling a bit unbalanced, an underlying public diagnosis is unfortunately attributed to that challenge. A fear that management might equate these challenges to age is not uncommon. Thoughts like, "It is probably related to their age." "They can't cut it anymore." "They've had enough of this ride, and they want off." These may not be true, but they are sadly part of the fear challenge that accompanies mental health issues. It can become a vicious cycle with no means allowed to an end.

By the way, who doesn't want off this ride from time to time? Personally, I have suffered from bouts of depression. I have battled anxiety and fought off panic attacks. Chemical imbalances triggered by different events/scenarios offer different responses to different people. These bouts can be a crippling challenge to any of us and can completely debilitate if left unchecked. I am not going to play doctor here, but there are several answers to each person's needs. I chose to utilize both therapy and prescribed drugs to battle my demons. I was fortunate enough to find the right combination to nearly eliminate the daily battles. They only come on rare occasions now. I am truly one of the lucky ones.

Mental health, while getting a lot of publicity in the media of late, still comes with a stigma attached. But let me point out again, your mental health is just as important and indeed intertwined with your physical health. They are inseparable for all ages. I hope that each of you have an employer who is compassionate and empathetic. Part of the new workforce paradigm is that they have an obligation to help you find the support and answers you need. Please take advantage of that offering if available. And patience...because these issues are not like a headache. Rarely does a single Rx or a single session with a psychiatrist provide a cure or an end to the symptoms.?If you are a "Sopranos" fan, you will know this from Tony's own experiences. Like most things in life, it is a process that needs to be worked in tandem with professionals.

Let me again point out that this is not my profession. If you need help, please go to a professional. Please speak with your family and even create an open dialogue with your employer. Employers, please be proactive and speak with your teams! A bit of assistance coupled with a bit of down time might create unprecedented productivity. Treat your being as if you are a project. Be agile. Adjust as needed. Use the best professionals available to assist you in reaching your goals. Enjoy life, enjoy work. We are all in this together.

Here are some links to get assistance in the US:?

Mentalhealth.gov: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help/immediate-help

Mental Health United Way 211: Dial 211?

Suicide Prevention Lifeline : https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/