What do you do if your mental health is suffering in the BPO industry?

Being aware of our emotions is the first and foremost important aspects of all. As an individual we should closely track and evaluate our behaviour and be aware of the feelings / emotions we carry or demonstrate in different situations. Many time we ignore it or deny by justifying to self and others to come across as strong. Nowadays organisations provide tons of resources and training to spread the awareness. So, I think we as individuals should leverage it and take responsibility to be aware of our own emotions and reach-out for appropriate help.

Today with the awareness that we have around mental health, it is easier to see for ourselves that something is a miss if we are feeling overwhelmed or depressed. Though there is still societal stigma but it is also getting better. Even if you are not sure, it is fine to go for a therapy to see if there is something you should be working on. You should be open and honest to yourself and should not delay the decision to see a therapist. Today it’s not just about yourself but also the environment you are exposed to on a daily basis. That can also have a bearing on your mental health. Like we go to a doctor in case of cold and flu, we should see a therapist in case we feel stressed out over a period of time.

It is tough, with lots of pressure, At times stress.. To win every day. I find meditation consistently very helpful. 2 sessions before starting the shift. 10 minutes each for focus and relaxation. It brings you back to the present, adds more energy because you can only be more productive if you in control of your mental health.

First and foremost, is to pay attention to your mind and body. Stress can manifest in a variety of ways, including physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and chest pain. It can also manifest in behaviors such as procrastination, avoiding tasks, and feeling overwhelmed. It's important to recognize these signs and take steps to manage stress. My go-to medicine is talking to family, friends or even my boss when I am feeling the inqinling of discomfort within my mind and body. Breathing and practicing mindfulness can also reduce stress levels. Taking breaks and engaging in activities that bring you joy can also help. Finally, seeking professional help can be an effective way to manage stress. DON'T be a hero, not worth the pain.

The key is to be proactive and mindful about your health to maintain good mental well-being. The following strategies have been effective for me:- 1. Engage in physical activity for at least one hour every day. 2. Ensure consistent 8-hour sleep at the same time each day. 3. If working night shifts, avoid consuming junk food and smoking (although challenging, it's essential for your long-term well-being). 4. Maintain a consistent daily routine regardless of the day until you decide to change your career path. With 11 years of experience in the BPO industry, primarily during night shifts, I've tried numerous approaches before discovering the effectiveness of these strategies.

* The importance of seeking guidance from professionals for purpose of good psychological welfare should be underscored. * Information on what is available within the work place such as employee assistance programs and counseling services would be helpful. * Like physical fitness, it is important to prioritize mental fitness too.’

Agree to this, Seeking professional help is the best step, They will never ever judge you. Speaking with someone who truly understand your phase is amazing.

Agree to this, Seeking professional help is the best step, They will never ever judge you. Speaking with someone who truly understand your phase is amazing.

Muchas veces, dejamos la responsabilidad total al individuo sobre su salud mental. Y a veces, este no se da cuenta de su malestar porque está encerrado en un circulo vicioso de sensaciones y emociones no agradables que le atribuye al estrés y lo normaliza. Por ello, es importante la concientización sobre la salud mental para que el equipo también cumpla un punto de apoyo y motivación a estas situaciones.

En realidad considero que los colaboradores reconocen esa necesidad del apoyo emocional pero se asume que este apoyo nos resta valentía y valor como profesionales y no se será capaz de cumplir con las funciones asignadas

Talk and take advice from your team members Exercise regularly Find more avenues to draw satisfaction (reading, traveling, networking, music, etc.)

Usually in the BPO industry as a finance professional you might have to pull all nighters, however this is communicated well in advance when one joins the organisation. Your manager and the team is also accommodating in terms of providing time offs during off-peak times. Despite that it could be overwhelming, one should convey this to your manager as the first resort to gauge through effectively. This will help to set right expectations and timelines.

We need first to understand what is Mental Health. It can be from bereavement or trauma through depression,anxiety and other diagnosed mental illness.This can affect performance at work. Some tips : Acknowledge the problem, speak to someone you trust at work,take some time off or see a doctor.Note: you need to take care of your self. I have 8yrs of experience in a BPO industry and what I do ,is take breaks ,I take leave days, I speak to my manager about adjustments and difficulties I'm facing.

I´m absolutly sure that BPO is strongly field and you need to prepare your body and your mind to attend the challenges. It is imperative spend family time, workout & visit the doctor & do not forget that in each work you need to enjoy it. Obiously, you need good stress to jump from confort zone, the bad one is easy to identify, inmediatly changes your smile for sad. If it is the case you need to identify what is this driver and solve it.

Self Care is very important in helping you cope up with stress. I believe all people have their different coping mechanisms when faced with certain situations but it can be exhausted when you forget to take care of your wellbeing. Due to the rise of technology where everything can be done in an instant, most often than not we forget that we are human beings that needs time to pause that causes health distress over time. Hence, I strongly believe in giving time to rest and introspect. Practice kindness to yourself.

I once heard “you can’t take care of business if you’re not alive to do so.” Taking time to recharge can give you the energy and space to begin, continue, or finish hard tasks on the job. The hardest part is telling yourself “you do have time” when you want to sacrifice self care for an achievement. Setting aside as little as 5 minutes on the hour dedicated to self care can produce results. Take that nap, eat that steak, or get that massage and don’t feel guilty about it. You deserve it.

One of the self-care steps can be taking time of from the work, so that you can come back to work with refreshing mind and great energy levels, people are so exhausted on doing their job they hardly take time to relax and let the pressure of work go off from their mind, so it is necessary to take sometime of from the busy work, and completely don't think anything about the work during their time off from the work, I remember few companies have policy where one has to take 5- 10 working days leaves annually, which will definitely improves the quality of the work done. In company's where such policy is not there employees should plan their quality time of from the work, so that when they come back, they can deliver quality over the quantity

Mental health has an impact on emotional health which consists of feelings, reactions, behaviour and responsible for overall emotional well-being. Usually these are intertwined. Important to also consider that Amygdala in brain is where the neurotransmitters start lowering down the release of stress hormones when under chronic stress. Some stress is good still as it acts as a defence mechanism against situations. Amygdala gets hijacked if this balance becomes dormant. To keep this working self-care activities are very crucial. These can be anything which keeps you happy and healthy. By involving in some happy activities, happy hobbies, breathing activities, suitable fitness regimes and eating right these can be achieved.

Identificar estos síntomas son el primer paso del autocuidado. Tener un autoconocimiento tan firme como para apoyarse en las propias fortalezas y poder implementar un cambio de hábitos que ayuden al bienestar a sobrellevar el malestar emocional que puede surgir del trabajo con BPO. Estas experiencias son situaciones de aprendizaje para identificar señales en el futuro y prevenirlas antes que se convierta en un problema.

La retroalimentación más poderosa siempre vendrá de un profesional de la salud, que cuenta con todas las herramientas para guiarte de la manera adecuada, certera y objetiva posible. Luego el apoyo de tus personas favoritas y mas cercanas, que se preocupan por tu bienestar y te dan esa mano amiga para levantarte y seguir avanzando a tu ritmo. Jamás te descuides, eres la persona más importante para ti.

Learn and implement coping mechanisms to manage stress effectively, such as problem-solving skills, time management techniques, or positive reframing /clarity breaks. Evaluate whether the BPO industry aligns with long-term mental health goals and consider alternative career paths.

I believe BPOs sometimes deny people with pre-existing mental health conditions accommodation, or they discriminate them outright over "business need". It creates undue burden on the employees as they often have to hide their condition and end up being on the chopping block. If BPOs want to be serious about mental health and stuff, they have to give as their onshore counterparts do: accommodations, mental health benefits, and legal protection

Sometimes the position does not match the agent. If an agent is struggling to produce then try switching them to another client or campaign. I have seen outstanding agents perform very well with one client. And I have also seen the same agent have very negative results with another client. Sometimes things just don't match such as agent personality, tone, or assertiveness. In situations like this it's most important to let the agent know that you care about them. Talk about the situation. Suggest adjustments and other options. Ease their fear of failure by letting them know this is not the end of the world or their career. Your best agents' mental health can drastically suffer if they are not in a successful environment.

In todays world, it is very important to take care of mental health, where employees work under immense pressure to deliver in stringent deadlines, apart from toxic work culture which seniors developed over the period, one has to choose where he can do anything about it vs where he can't do anything about what's going on, in situations like this, one has to take guidance from the mentors on unfavorable situations. so at least he has someone who can hear his problems and acknowledge the same, mentors roles is very critical in mental health issues and getting right mentor is also very critical to resolve mental health issues

Everyday is not Sunday! What seems incorrect today will and can’t be same the other day. Plan and prep well for the work assigned, consider competition around and be empathetic to people. Mental stress gets triggered due to anything that your mind isn’t ready for, so be more aware and continue this process. It is just the same as an athlete prepares and practices regularly to condition muscles and awaits for the final race, continue to persevere for your respective goals. These are yours! Having a rather flexible yet routined lifestyle can bring more balance to the mental health to be able to handle any stress causing signs.