Signs to Look Out For

Signs to look out for

It’s not always easy to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health problems, and it’s even harder when the person who may be suffering isn’t sharing a workplace with you.

That’s why it’s so important that employers of lone workers have good communications protocols and protective measures in place. A culture of communication is always the best first step to safeguarding the mental health of your lone workers.

Signs to look out for

That said, there are some signs which it can be helpful to watch out for, which don’t require in-person contact to become apparent, and which might suggest that someone is having difficulty concentrating or could be suffering from poor mental health. These include:

Suddenly reduced or unpredictable performance
Neglect of safety advice/more accidents
Withdrawal - being difficult to reach by telephone/electronic means
High rates of sickness absence
Being short-tempered or having outbursts of anger

It’s vital to recognise that the signs exhibited by each person will be different, and that some people will not exhibit any signs at all that their employer or colleagues are aware of.