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Mental health doesn’t impact just the mind; it also impacts physical health. For instance, cortisol, the hormone released to help manage stress, can result in a lowered ability of the body to fight infections when there are consistently higher levels of cortisol released over a prolonged period of time. This weakens the body’s immune system (University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, 2025). It can also lead to increased biological aging, resulting in faster rates of certain diseases (Green, 2026).
However, even with that, mental health is often dismissed as less important than physical health. This is partly due to the way deteriorating physical health can result in visible symptoms, while mental health might not. For example, even something like a cold accompanies a cough, a runny nose, a fever, or other symptoms –things that visibly show others that the individual is ill. Mental illnesses, however, often don’t have such visibly obvious symptoms. Of course, there is also a stigma associated with mental illnesses, and a poll found that 35% of Americans would view someone differently if they knew that they had a mental health condition (The Harris Poll, 2025), and that same poll found that 84% say that the term “mental illness” itself carries a stigma. This doesn’t just have social repercussions surrounding the widespread view on mental health, but it impacts the willingness to even receive treatment. The Harris Poll found that 41% of polled Americans say that they would be uncomfortable asking for help, and more of them would be comfortable requesting help for physical issues than mental ones when it comes to accommodations at work or school. Even still, for both categories, the percentage of Americans willing to ask for those accommodations is less than half. The Effect of the Workplace on Mental Health People exist in the context of their environments, meaning that where we spend our lives and who we spend them with is an important factor in our lives and health. As it’s estimated that 61% of the world works (World Bank Group, 2026), it’s important to consider the impact of the workplace on mental health, which can be both positive and negative. For example, more than half of polled U.S. workers exhibited moderate to severe levels of depression, and almost three-quarters had minor to severe levels of depression (Mind Share Partners & Qualtrics, 2025). Anxiety is also another common mental illness among workers. It isn’t just mental illness, either; the workplace can contribute to poor mental health even outside of illnesses such as depression. One study found that 84% of polled U.S. workers felt that their workplace had at least one factor that negatively affected their mental health (Mind Share Partners et al., 2021), often emotionally draining work or poor work-life balance. Negative Impact of the Workplace on Mental Health One way that the workplace can negatively impact mental health is through job insecurity, which can result in lower self-esteem, impaired functioning, and worsened mental health challenges (Keil, 2026). Of course, there is also the reality that a toxic workplace is an additional source of stress, with 18% of workers describing their workplace as such according to the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2022. Another way is by causing burnout, defined as a state of physical or emotional exhaustion often caused by prolonged stress (Mayo Clinic, 2023). There are many symptoms of burnout, such as questioning the value of your work, losing patience or focus, lacking interest in work, suddenly having physical symptoms, and others. There are also different causes of burnout, some of which are feeling a lack of control in what you do or having poor work-life balance. There are ways to handle workplace burnout, such as reaching out to coworkers to divide the workload, contacting your support network, or trying to find new ways to relax. These are often common tactics used to support better mental health in the workplace, as well. Resources Provided for Mental Health at Work Sometimes, the workplace can directly provide tools to help, and in fact, 81% of polled Americans said that they would be looking at whether the workplace supports mental health when looking for future work (APA, 2022), while 71% of workers felt that their employers were more concerned about mental health than in the past. According to this same study, some ways that employees felt that their employers could support them were offering support, respecting time off, and having remote jobs or a four-day work week. Interestingly, one of the most popular opinions was that, of workers whose workplaces offer insurance that covers mental health, it’s an effective means of support; individuals also felt the same about mental health training when their workplace includes that. In the U.S., there are certain legal rights concerning mental health (U.S. Department of Labor, n.d.), such as being protected against discrimination based on your mental health condition (Americans With Disabilities Act, 1990); this act also requires reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities, which includes certain mental illnesses. The U.S. Department of Labor also offers a list of resources to support workers, as well as resources for workers themselves to use, which is linked under the references section. There are many resources available to help support mental health at work, some of which might be offered by the workplace such as partnering with mental health providers (WorkLife Partnership, n.d.), and others that can be done at home, such as meditating, and having a work-life balance, which is one of the most common recommendations in the sources found. The need to have a balance between work and life outside of it is extremely important. Positive Impacts of the Workplace on Mental Health Even though it’s important to bear in mind that work-life balance is essential, it’s equally as important to remember that the impact of work on mental health isn’t solely negative; work provides many benefits as well. As the World Health Organization (2024) points out, work can help improve mental health by providing workers with “a livelihood; a sense of confidence, purpose and achievement; an opportunity for positive relationships and inclusion in a community; and a platform for structured routines, among many other benefits.” It goes on to say that the workplace can even benefit those with existing mental health conditions. In addition, feeling that you matter at work helps reduce stress (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2025); it’s also been shown that opportunities for growth at work help to improve confidence in one’s abilities, which is part of having a high self-efficacy, something that has been shown to be an important factor in happiness as you grow older (Babazadeh et al., 2025.) Work also provides important social interactions, particularly if the connections with coworkers are meaningful (Keil, 2026). It can foster a sense of belonging, which matters since humans are social creatures. Keil (2026) also states that the routine offered by work is an important benefit, due to the feeling of structure it can provide, and he even goes to say that “a clear schedule and well-defined tasks can reduce anxiety and increase a sense of control over one’s environment, positively influencing mental health.” In short, the workplace has many effects on mental health, some of which are adverse and others which are beneficial, and even for the negative impacts on well-being, there are resources available to help. Work is an important part of our lives, which means that the effect it has on mental health is equally as important as the effect on physical health. Some more resources available for mental health support in the work place, such as that offered by Mental Health America and the Center for Workplace Mental Health, are contained below, and there are countless others available. References Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (1990). Babazadeh, T., Ranjbaran, S., Pourrazavi, S., Chollou, K.M., Nadi, A., & Tazekand, E.S. (2025). Self-efficacy, self-esteem, and happiness in older adults: A cross-sectional study. PLoS ONE 20(3). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319269 Green, R. (2026, February 25). The Connection Between Mental Health and Physical Health. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/the-mental-and-physical-health-connection-7255857 How your mental health affects your physical health — and why that matters at work. (2025, September 23). University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://uihc.org/health-topics/how-your-mental-health-affects-your-physical-health-and-why-matters-work Job burnout: How to spot it and take action. (2023, November 30). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642 Keil, J. (February 6, 2026). The impact of work on mental health. Nilo. https://nilohealth.com/blog/the-impact-of-work-on-mental-health/ Mental health awareness month: Key findings on U.S. attitudes and barriers to care. (2025). The Harris Poll. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://theharrispoll.com/articles/mental-health-awareness-month-key-findings-on-u-s-attitudes-and-barriers-to-care-2/ Mental health at work. (2024, September 2). The World Health Organization. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work Mental health at work. (n.d.). U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://www.dol.gov/general/mental-health-at-work Mental health support. (n.d.) WorkLife Partnership. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://www.worklifepartnership.org/mental-health-support/ Mind Share Partners & Qualtrics. (2025). 2025 mental health at work report. Mind Share Partners. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://mindshare.box.com/shared/static/60sc45b7x4ogkr9kyo1sv8r2yglrf5aw.pdf Mind Share Partners, Qualtrics, and ServiceNow. (2021). 2021 mental health at work report. Mind Share Partners. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://mindshare.box.com/shared/static/dl36pf2ii3f6zlmoccyk5pd3ebxffgo9.pdf Workers appreciate and seek mental health support in the workplace. (2022, July). American Psychological Association. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/work-well-being/2022-mental-health-support#:%7E:text=A%20majority%20%2881%25%29%20of,into%20their%20future%20job%20decisions Workplace mental health and well-being. (2025, January 24). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/workplace-well-being/index.html World Bank Group. (2026). Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS). World Bank Group. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
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Bullying is the intentional use of physical force, comments, and threats to abuse, dominate, or intimidate one or more people. It is a serious global issue, manifesting in both personal interactions and social media. In 2022, about 19% of students ages 12-18 reported being bullied during school (National Center For Education Statistics [NCES], 2024). This statistic means that roughly 1 in 5 school students in the United States experiences bullying. Bullying is not limited to education and social media; bullying in professional environments has become more common as years pass. 52.2 million workers were being bullied at their workplace at the time of the 2024 Workplace Bullying Survey, while 22.6 million workers were witnesses to bullying in their professional environment (Namie, 2024). This means that roughly 74.8 million people have been affected by workplace bullying in the United States.
Globally, the bullying issue is worsening. The United Nations (2026) reported that two-thirds of children worldwide say cyberbullying is increasing in schools. According to Vinney (2025), there are six types of bullying that occur: physical, verbal, relational, cyber, sexual, and prejudicial. Physical Bullying
Verbal Bullying
Relational Bullying
Cyberbullying
Sexual Bullying
Prejudicial Bullying
Anti-Bullying Alliance. (n.d.). Bystanders. https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/all-about-bullying/whole-school-and-setting-approach/peer-support-strategies-0 Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. (n.d.). Relational Bullying. Center for Violence Prevention. https://violence.chop.edu/relational-aggression Crisis Text Line. (n.d.). Bullying resources you need to know. https://www.crisistextline.org/topics/bullying/ Namie, G. (2024). 2024 WBI U.S workplace bullying survey. Workplace Bullying Institute. https://workplacebullying.org/2024-wbi-us-survey/ National Center for Education Statistics. (2024, July). Student bullying. U.S Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences.https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/a10/bullying-electronic-bullying StopBullying.gov. (n.d.). Long-term effects of bullying. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.stopbullying.gov/bullying/effects The Center for Parent Information and Resources. (2020, May). Bullying. https://www.parentcenterhub.org/bullying/#:~:text=Facts%20about%20bullying.,of%20Child%20and%20Adolescent%20Psychiatry. United Nations. (2026, March 10). An “alarming” two-thirds of children say cyberbullying has increased. UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/03/1167111 Vinney, C. (2025, October 24). What are the different types of bullying? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-bullying-5207717 Early mental health intervention can yield positive outcomes and help prevent future issues across various areas of a child’s development. This can include improvements in emotional, behavioral, academic, and social domains. Receiving care from mental health professionals (such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors) can help improve emotional regulation, strengthen family relationships, enhance school performance, and support healthy long-term development (Simeonova, Akee & Copeland, 2023).
Improved Emotional Well-Being Psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) have been found to help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression in youth (Dickson, Kuhnert, Lavell & Rapee, 2022; Cujipers et al., 2023). CBT and related treatments can help anxious children learn to manage fears and reduce avoidance, leading to significant decreases in anxiety symptoms and diagnoses (Dickson et al., 2022). Similarly, previous literature suggests that psychotherapy is effective for treating depression in children and adolescents, with roughly 54% of youth achieving clinically significant improvement with therapy (versus about 32% with no treatment) (Cujipers et al., 2023). These effects may be attributed to improvements in emotional regulation and self-esteem after engaging in therapy. Through techniques like reframing negative thoughts, recognizing emotions, and practicing relaxation or mindfulness, children and teens can learn healthier ways to identify and manage complex emotions. Somatic therapy can be beneficial for youth who experience trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Somatic therapies like Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) and Somatic Experiencing (SE) are effective in helping youth process trauma by focusing on body-based memories and sensations rather than verbal recounting, which can be overwhelming for children (Classen et al., 2021). Body-focused therapies help children and adolescents increase awareness of bodily cues linked to stress and dysregulation, which enhances their ability to manage strong emotions like fear, anger, or sadness (Maldei, Maier & Burger, 2021). Additionally, EMDR and other somatic-based therapies have been linked to reductions in PTSD symptoms, particularly when trauma is stored as non-verbal, bodily memory in youth (Scelles & Bulnes, 2021). Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has been widely studied as a treatment for adolescents with pervasive suicidal ideation (S/I), self-harm behaviors, and emotion dysregulation. It combines individual therapy, group skills training, coaching, and regular therapist sessions. DBT is grounded in three main theories: behavioral theory (changing problematic behaviors), biosocial theory (understanding emotional vulnerability and invalidation), and dialectical philosophy (balancing acceptance and change) (Rizvi et al., 2024). DBT for adolescents (DBT-A) consistently shows moderate to large effects in reducing self-harm, suicidal ideation, and emotional dysregulation compared to other therapies (Kothgassner et al., 2021; Syversen et al., 2024). Findings suggest that DBT-A leads to greater reductions in suicide attempts and overall self-harm, with benefits often sustained up to 1–3 years post-treatment. Among queer youth at high risk for suicide, many experienced significant improvements in emotion regulation, depression, borderline symptoms, and coping strategies (Poon et al., 2022). DBT can help manage anger and other aspects of emotional dysregulation by utilizing coping strategies (Goldstein et al., 2023; Haktanir et al., 2023). These can include understanding anger and its sources, as well as learning how to channel and express anger more constructively. Social and Interpersonal Skills Therapy for children and adolescents can enhance their social skills and relationships with others. Many youth may struggle with peer interactions, and mental health professionals can help them develop the tools to navigate the social world more effectively. Through role-playing, group therapy sessions, or targeted social skills training, children learn and practice important interpersonal behaviors like sharing, assertiveness, active listening, and empathy (Addington et al., 2021). For adolescents, therapy can address issues like peer pressure, loneliness, or communication difficulties. By discussing their social experiences in counseling, teens often gain perspective and confidence in handling relationships. Therapists may coach them on strategies for dealing with bullying or exclusion, which can aid in building resilience (Gubbels et al., 2021; Gilmore et al., 2022). Academic and School Performance Mental health treatment for youth is linked not only to personal well-being but also to improved academic performance and school outcomes. Research shows that effective therapy can produce meaningful gains in various academically relevant areas (Sulimani-Aidan & Melkman, 2021). Psychotherapy showed an overall positive effect on academic-related outcomes, including improvements in classroom attendance, academic achievement test scores, and self-reported school adjustment (Cujipers et al., 2023). Therapy often targets skills that are crucial for academic success, such as organization, time management, and problem-solving. Many interventions aid in teaching children how to plan tasks or cope with stress. By boosting hope and self-esteem, therapy helps children feel more connected and competent at school. Long-Term Developmental Benefits Early mental health intervention can yield long-term benefits that extend into adolescence and adulthood. In a longitudinal study tracking children who received mental health treatment versus those who did not, the treated children were found to have fewer depression and anxiety symptoms by age 30. They also achieved better economic and educational outcomes in adulthood compared to their untreated peers (Simeonova et al., 2023). This suggests that getting help early not only improves how a child is doing in the present but also sets them up for a more successful and stable future. References:
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