Mental Health and Work-Life Balance

In recent years, workplace culture has evolved to make mental health a topic of awareness rather than stigma. Employers are becoming more intentional about supporting employee well-being, recognizing that mental health plays a major role in how people show up, perform and connect at work. From increased access to resources to the growing acceptance of mental health days, conversations around work-life balance are becoming more open and necessary than ever before.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we spoke with Donna Ragucci, M.Ed, LMHC, RN, behavioral therapist for the Center for Healthy Minds and Practice, about the importance of work-life balance and how prioritizing mental wellness can positively impact both personal and professional life.

Does work-life balance exist when it comes to managing stress at work?

Yes, I believe it does exist. It’s all about creating boundaries without forgetting to do the things that bring you joy outside of work. It’s good to know what feeds your soul and keeps the inner you fueled and happy. When you set boundaries and prioritize your tasks, it helps prevent you from feeling overwhelmed. It’s okay to say no. Balance looks different for everyone, but you have to find what works for you. If we aren’t at our best, then how can we help others?

How do we create a work culture that is more aware of the mental health needs of employees?

Over time, we’ve seen society make mental health less stigmatized and push for better awareness of the issue. Take advantage of the resources your job offers. UF Health offers CHAMP, and it’s accessible to all our employees.

When leaders are more aware, then they can be more sensitive to the needs of their employees and try to create a welcoming and safe environment. It might look like having an open-door policy, fostering healthy and kind relationships with colleagues, and setting the tone for the people around you.

How does your mental health affect the way you show up to work?

When someone’s behavior changes at work, it’s important to take notice. Mental health issues will eventually manifest in a person’s physical health or habits. Some signs that a person’s mental health isn’t the best at work might look like: being quieter than usual; a decline in work productivity; the person isolating themselves; a decline in the quality of work; tardiness; or leaving early without an excuse. These are all behavioral changes that might raise concern. Be careful not to drag home issues into work, and work issues into your home life.

What advice would you give to someone working a full-time job and they feel constantly overwhelmed, but they don’t know how to tell their manager?

It can be tough at work sometimes, but we all have our capacity. We all want to do our best to please our managers, but it’s still important to work within our boundaries. Especially to prevent burnout. With time, I think we get better at setting boundaries and expectations and being honest about the projects we take on.

In addition to CHaMP, UF Health offers mental health services for employees through an EAP program. For all patients, many UF Health Family Medicine practices have licensed clinical social workers, or LCSWs, for individual and family therapy. UF Health Psychiatry services for adults and children offer appointments for medication management as well. Visit UFHealthJax.org for more information.