Organised by the World Federation for Mental Health, World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is celebrated each year on October 10. As it was last year, the theme for 2025 is “It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace.” Last October I shared my experience of healthy and unhealthy work environments in Do More of What You’re Good At and Keep Good People Close: What I’ve Learned about Prioritising Mental Health in the Workplace. Elsewhere, I’ve written on the value of teamwork and workplace recognition, and described working with colleagues and senior leaders to achieve accreditation under the Time to Change Employer Pledge Scheme.
It’s hard to overstate the importance of a supportive workplace. But what if you’re not in a workplace right now? What if your days don’t fit neatly into a nine-to-five schedule, with face-to-face team meetings, water cooler moments, and lunch breaks in the staff canteen? Maybe you’re self-employed or work in a sector that involves a lot of travelling or working on your own. Maybe you work from home, are between jobs, retired, or long-term unemployed, medically or otherwise unable to work. If that’s your reality you might wonder where you fit into this WMHD conversation.
Mental Health Outside the Workplace
Mental health challenges can affect any of us, regardless of our employment situation. Employers aren’t necessarily great at supporting their employees, but many do make an effort. Those support structures and procedures aren’t available to you if you’re outside the workplace environment for any reason. The responsibility for your mental health and wellbeing falls much more on your own shoulders. You may also face specific challenges which don’t generally apply to people in a more traditional workplace setting.
Maybe you’re self-employed, handling the challenges of running a business. This may include the responsibility of employing, managing, and supporting employees of your own. Maybe you’re a freelance worker navigating the insecurities of living from one contract to the next. Maybe you’re a homeworking parent balancing the competing demands of work, home, and childcare. Maybe you’re a salesperson, driver, carer, or other worker who spends a lot of time working on your own or away your office or team environment.
Maybe you’re newly retired, adjusting to this new phase of your life, without the support structures you had when you were in work. Maybe you’re disabled or chronically ill, and have to manage your condition or symptoms on top of life’s other challenges. Maybe you’re a job-seeker dealing with financial worries, stress, disappointment, self-doubt, and the stigma (including self-stigma) of unemployment.
Whatever your situation, it’s important to remember that your experiences and needs are valid. They, and you, deserve respect, care, and support.
What Support Do Workplaces Provide?
Every workplace is different, but when I talk about mental health in the workplace I’m referring to policies and structures that exist to support employees, either formally or informally. They include:
- A sense of routine and structure
- Social interaction with colleagues
- Performance recognition and feedback
- A sense of identity or purpose
- Access to internal or external employee support
Outside the workplace, many or all of these supports may be missing. Without them, you may need a different kind of support system.
Caring for Your Mental Health Outside the Workplace
How can you replicate the positive aspects of the workplace if you don’t have that formal structure in your life? People respond differently to structure but personally I like know what’s coming up in my day-to-day life. Consider using a paper calendar or app to keep track of what you need to do and when. Even a basic routine can help ground us, serving as a template into which we can fit appointments and other activities. Remember to allow room for yourself too. Be creative. A friend recently showed me the physical time-tracking tool she uses to keep herself on target.
Workplace assessments can be tedious but they provide feedback, reminding us of our value and helping keep us on track. Outside of the workplace, it’s easy to lose sight of our value. Make a point of checking in with yourself every now and again to acknowledge your achievements and monitor your progress towards whatever goals motivate you. Remember that success is a personal thing and not everything is to be measured against the criteria society sets up for us. I’ve written about this previously in For the Win! Celebrate Your Successes in Your Own Way. Your value isn’t defined by your productivity or job title. You are not “less than” for being outside the traditional workplace environment, whether that’s by choice or necessity.
If you’re not currently employed, or are employed in a non-traditional working setup, one of the most valuable things you can do for your mental health is to recognise and foster the supportive connections you have already. Whether it’s a friend or family member, therapist, or social network, connection is healthy in and of itself. There’s no one approach that works for everyone. I’ve written about different types of support system previously in such posts as Spokesfriends and Insular Groups: What Kind of Support Network Do You Have? and You Are Not Alone: Celebrating Community.
There’s a wealth of information and support available, online and locally, much of it free to access. Research charity websites relevant to your situation, community mental health hubs, and online and local peer support groups. If you’re unsure what’s available, ask your doctor for recommendations or a referral.
WMHD Really Must Be for Everyone
World Mental Health Day 2025 is focused on mental health in the workplace. It’s an important topic, but we need to broaden the conversation. What does workplace mental health mean in a world where not everyone has or wants a traditional workplace? Your day may not begin and end with a commute to the office. Your week or month may not begin or end with a paycheck. Nevertheless, your mental health and your needs are important.
This World Mental Health Day, let’s commit to making space for all kinds of work and all kinds of lives.
Photo by Chris Montgomery at Unsplash.
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