The Impact of Employment Discrimination on Mental Health

Workplace discrimination effects on an individual can be far-reaching, extending beyond career and financial implications and affecting one’s mental health. According to the National Library of Medicine, workplace discrimination has been found to lead to psychological distress and “depressive symptoms.”

As it turns out, being treated differently, especially when related to a physical characteristic over which we have no control, can cause low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.

This article explores the impact of employment inequality and the link between job bias and mental health.

Identifying Instances of Employment Discrimination

Workplace discrimination occurs when someone is treated unfairly or unequally at work or during the job application process due to a protected characteristic. These characteristics are defined by state and federal law. In California, these characteristics include:

• Race, ethnicity, national origin
• Age (40 and over)
• Gender, gender identity, gender expression
• Religion
• Sexual orientation
• Pregnancy
• Marital status
• Disabilities

While it may be “acceptable” as a part of a company culture to poke fun at others or ask invasive questions, when these comments or questions are related to anything on the list above, it constitutes discrimination.

Discrimination can range from “microaggressions,” like jokes and comments, to blatant forms of discrimination, like refusing to promote or hire someone because of their race or gender, for example.

Understanding the Effects of Employment Discrimination on Mental Health

Workplace discrimination consequences can be catastrophic to an individual’s mental health, and they can also harm societal and economic progress as a whole.

Some of the common effects that employment discrimination can have on one’s mental health include:

• Stress and anxiety: According to therapists, the hostility that people encounter when they face discrimination in an environment where they spend the bulk of their waking hours can raise stress. Over time, the effects of stress can lead to anxiety disorders, as well as other mental and physical conditions.
   
• Depression: It should come as no surprise that being treated unfairly and attacked for a characteristic that may even be an integral part of us can lead to feelings of low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. Spending extended hours, day in and day out, in an unwelcome environment can result in sadness and hopelessness as they grapple to cope with the poor treatment and the feelings it causes.
   
• Physical health problems: Mental and physical health are closely linked, so as one’s mental health deteriorates, physical health can quickly follow suit. It’s well-documented that prolonged stress can cause hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and other serious health conditions and diseases.
   
• Isolation and social withdrawal: When one is treated badly or unfairly in an employment setting, it’s natural to withdraw from that environment, leading to further isolation and alienation from colleagues. As one isolates, that behavior can also extend to settings outside of work.
   
• Decreased job satisfaction: Discrimination is likely to make someone feel undervalued and underappreciated. This can naturally lead to diminished job satisfaction and a lack of motivation.
   
• Post-traumatic stress disorder: Dealing with the stress of routine employment discrimination can make even the act of coming to work trigger feelings of major stress. Flashbacks, aggressive behavior, trouble sleeping, and self-destructive behavior are all common symptoms of PTSD.
   
• Impaired cognitive functioning: The stress and anxiety that stems from employment discrimination can also have an adverse effect on one’s ability to think critically, concentrate, and make good decisions. This, in turn, can affect job performance, creating a vicious cycle that could very easily lead to further acts of discrimination.

How Mental Health and Job Bias Are Related

For those already dealing with a mental health condition, facing discrimination in the workplace because of it can be particularly problematic.

Employers should be aware that several mental health conditions qualify as a disability, making it unlawful to discriminate against someone based on that condition. Some of the mental health conditions that qualify as a disability include bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and ADHD.

Often, where mental health issues are concerned, bias or discrimination can occur due to a lack of understanding of the condition and a failure to appreciate how destructive discriminatory behavior can be. With an estimated 18.5% of the U.S. adult population facing a mental health disability, employers and workers alike should take care to be extra sensitive to these issues.

When someone is already struggling with mental health, and they’re being made fun of or passed up for opportunities at work because of it, there can be a snowball effect that, in essence, makes the mental health condition worse.

Contact an Experienced California Employment Discrimination Attorney

The impact of employment discrimination on mental health can have a detrimental effect on one’s quality of life, career prospects, and financial health. At Kent Pincin, we have a successful track record of advocating for the rights of our clients who have been victimized by employment discrimination. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 310.376.0922.