Jun 2025 How to talk with an employee who has possible mental health concerns
Perhaps you have noticed a change in an employee’s behaviour or attitude over the last month or two. And if that is the case, how can you approach them so they feel supported, and provide them with a safe space to explain what they are mentally and emotionally struggling with?
The information below was taken from the Beyond Blue website. They are an organisation that provides a free online and telephone helpline for people with depression, anxiety or other mental health issues.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is when anxious feelings don’t go away and may not have a clear cause. If someone is living with anxiety, the anxious feelings may not be easily managed. Anxiety is a serious condition that makes it hard for a person to cope with daily life.
What is depression?
Depression affects how a person feels about themselves. It can make life more difficult to manage from day to day. They might lose interest in things they usually enjoy, feel irritable, find it hard to concentrate, may lack energy, and have trouble sleeping or sleep more than usual.
How to approach a person that seems to be struggling
When an employee seems to be struggling, knowing how to approach the conversation can be daunting. This is where the ALS acronym becomes a powerful tool.
ALS stands for Ask, Listen, and Support – three essential steps that can make a significant difference in how you connect with and assist someone in need.
Using ALS helps ensure that your approach is compassionate, effective, and supportive, ultimately fostering a sense of trust and care in times of distress.
A – Ask if they’re okay.
L – Listen to what they tell you.
S – Support them to get the help they need.
Ask if they’re okay
Simply asking how someone is going is a great way to start the conversation. Explain the differences you’ve noticed and ask them if they’re OK.
There’s no right or wrong way to say that you’re concerned. Just be genuine.
“I have noticed a change in your attitude or behaviour, would you like to talk with me about what’s happening or what your feeling?”
L – Listen
Take time to try to understand their experience of feeling anxious or depressed. Everyone’s experience is unique. Recognise and validate how they’re feeling.
“I can hear that the last few months have been really tough for you. Please tell me more about it.”
Support them to get the help they need
Confidentiality
Keep what they tell you private, unless they’re at risk of hurting themselves or someone else.
“I know it can be hard to talk about this – thanks for trusting me with it.”
“What can I do to support you?”
“What have you tried already? Have you thought about seeing your doctor or Beyond Blue?
Don’t give advice
It’s natural to want to solve the problem to make them feel better. However, the most helpful thing you can do is listen. It’s important to give them space to talk and feel heard. Try to avoid making assumptions or offering solutions, advice or a diagnosis by saying –
“How are you feeling about that? How’s that affecting you?”
Don’t judge
Be non-judgmental if they share things that are hard to hear or you don’t understand. Together you can work out how to move forward.
“Can I just check that I have understood you correctly?”
Don’t tell them to ‘snap out of it’.
When someone has anxiety or depression, it doesn’t help to pressure them to ‘snap out of it’. You can’t assume that the problem will go away without help.
So if you notice changes in someone’s attitude over a period of time, you can use some of the guidelines above to approach the issue in a supportive way.
Here are some organisations that specialise in offering a free online and telephone help for mental health concerns:
www.beyondblue.org.au
www.mindspot.org.au
www.mensline.org.au