Women pay a heavy price for mental disorders. They have a high risk of developing certain psychological conditions, particularly those related to stress and anxiety. However, few women dare to talk about their psychological difficulties to their employer, for fear that it will slow down their career development.
When it comes to mental health, certain population categories are more vulnerable than others. This is the case for women. They are more likely to experience an episode of depression, anxiety or mood disorders during their lifetime. 37% of women aged 18-24 say they have already had mental health problems and 25% currently have them, according to a recent Indeed* survey.
Despite the scale of the phenomenon, many women do not dare to talk about their psychological difficulties at work. More than half of French employees admit that they do not feel confident enough to talk to their manager about their mental health, and 28% even say that they feel very uncomfortable at the idea of doing so. TO DO. Working women aged 18 to 24 are even more likely to remain silent (71%), even though they are more at risk than their elders.
But how can we explain why women hide their psychological distress from those around them professionally? First of all, by fear of stigma. Employees fear making themselves a burden or a burden on the company if they talk about their mental disorders at work. 49% of respondents fear that their superior will find them less competent than their colleagues if they broach the subject with him.
In the same way, a large number of working women fear missing out on a salary increase or a promotion if they talk about their psychological difficulties at the office. While women are already regularly penalized in the professional sphere because of their maternity plans, we can understand why they refuse to broach the subject.
However, each year, psychological disorders are the cause of more and more long-term absences. Their share increased by more than 6 points between 2019 and 2023 to represent almost a quarter of work stoppages, according to a survey by the insurer AXA.
Companies therefore have every interest in taking a greater interest in the mental health of their employees, regardless of their gender, and in creating an environment conducive to dialogue. Younger generations particularly expect to be able to talk about their mental health at work: employers who do not comply with their request therefore risk losing attractiveness on the job market.
*This poll was conducted by YouGov, on behalf of Indeed, via an online survey answered by 14,677 women, working full-time or part-time in 11 countries, between November 14 and 23, 2023
