The recent article Stressed workers ‘fear the sack’ led me to question whether our employers are realistically equipped to prevent or deal with mental health issues effectively writes Ioana Lazarov.

While most companies and organisations have a designated employee self-referral mental health department, how many of us actually engage with these services?

As job satisfaction is a consistent determinant of life satisfaction, the reciprocal relationship between the two determines in large our views and sense of self, our professional and personal abilities and, ultimately, our self-esteem.

Therefore, should stressed workers ‘fear the sack’, if the stress factor occurs within the workplace or outside our control?

While mental health problems such as stress and burnout are of a common occurrence – exposure to these factors attract both positive and negative consequences – it is becoming apparent that some view these issues as a personal weakness or inability to cope.

So, what can we do to prevent or minimize the effects of stress and burnout?

A recent piece of research published by the American Psychological Association claims that getting along with our co-workers may serve as a buffer to occupational stress or anguish and ultimately prolong our life.

By simply talking to someone we trust through some of the issues that affect us within the day-to-day work environment could reveal similar struggles or challenges and provide us with applicable solutions and a fresh and positive outlook that could potentially promote or enhance our mental health and wellbeing.

What would you recommend as a proactive and strategic approach to minimising stress at the workplace?