Four in 10 engineering professionals say work has damaged their mental health

Are you feeling down right now? With summer drawing to a near close, a new survey from CV-Library, the UK independent job board, reveals that engineering professionals are feeling the effects of the upcoming seasonal change, with four in 10 (39.5%) claiming that work is damaging their mental health.

The research, which surveyed over 2,000 professionals, found that 42.9% of engineering professionals even consider resigning from their job because of this, with a further 58.1% stating that their workplace doesn’t do enough to support employees. 

When asked what their employer could do to help employees with mental health issues, the respondents suggested the following:

• Promote a healthy work-life balance (64%)  
• Talk more openly about mental health (52%)    
• Refer employees to a counselling service (44%)    
• Reduce pressure to work longer hours (32%)    

Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, comments on the findings: “At this point in the year, daylight is dwindling, workplaces are getting back into full swing and the next prolonged period of time off may seem far away. It’s no wonder then that employees are already facing the post-summer blues; especially in engineering where there’s minimal room for error and a lot of pressure. 

“Indeed, the survey shows that those in engineering are feeling the impact of a culture which encourages staying after-hours to get everything finished. It’s completely normal to struggle with the transition between the seasons, so don’t be afraid to put your mental health first by prioritising your work-life balance.”  

When asked who they’d be most likely to talk to about their mental health, a partner ranked highest (54.8%), with a medical professional (42.9%) and a counsellor or therapist (35.7%) following. 

“Shockingly, a fractional 2.4% of engineering professionals listed their boss as who they’d talk to, underlining that they are not seeking support from their employers.”

Biggins continues: “Our research shows the changes that engineering professionals most want to see in the workplace, but these aren’t likely to take effect if you don’t raise the subject with your employer. The more of us that speak out about our problems, the quicker we can establish change at work. Once we shake the stigma, solutions will follow.”