Struggles with mental health are not limited to any particular profession. Anyone can end up dealing with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, OCD, or another mental health condition.

However, there is a clear stigma against talking openly about mental health troubles in certain lines of work. Many people who work in demanding careers, like medicine, law, and similar professions, feel like they should keep details about their mental health under wraps. They might worry that admitting to issues with their mental health might hurt their reputation or their standing amongst their coworkers. They may also be concerned that they’ll be viewed as “unprofessional” or weak.

Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on profession. Demanding careers can lead to burnout, which raises someone’s risk of developing a mental health condition. Let’s explore the stigma against talking about mental health in these high-powered careers.

Stigma: Professionals Don’t Have Mental Health Struggles

First, many people assume that people in prestigious career paths who draw high salaries and societal respect simply do not struggle with their mental health. It’s easy to believe that if someone’s material needs are met, and they have finally achieved the title that they worked so hard for, they will always feel fulfilled and satisfied.

But money and prestige do not buy happiness. In fact, some people in these professions may feel guiltier because they are still struggling despite their achievements.

Stigma: Struggling Means You’re Bad at Your Job

Doctors, lawyers, and other professionals may fear that if they opened up about struggling with their mental health, people would assume that they could not do their job properly. They may worry that their coworkers would view them as a “slacker” or think that they were trying to get out of their responsibilities.

Stigma: They Don’t Have The Right To Complain

People in high-earning professions that have important obligations might feel like they don’t have the right to complain about their mental health. After all, other people are living in worse circumstances. But the idea that someone, somewhere has it worse won’t erase your own problems.

However, even if someone knows this, they may still want to avoid being judged as someone who complains when their circumstances might be highly desirable to other people.

Stigma: Everyone Else Can “Handle It”

With so many people in these professions suffering in silence, they often don’t realize that they are not alone. They might believe that none of their coworkers or other people in their industry feel the way that they do. This only worsens their symptoms. They may feel like they’re not as tough as their coworkers, or like they don’t really deserve to work in their profession because they can’t shoulder these burdens as well as everyone else seems to.

But what if everyone felt comfortable talking about their mental health struggles? Speaking up about your own would not feel so difficult.

Stigma: They Should Struggle In Silence

Sometimes, doctors or lawyers who struggle with their mental health do realize that they aren’t the only ones who face these problems. Yet talking about this openly is still not the norm in these industries. They may believe that they should suffer in silence.

What if no one else starts the conversation and breaks this specific taboo? It can be hard to imagine being the one who breaks the ice. It may be a while before the tides turn. But no one “deserves” to suffer in silence. 

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Are you struggling with your mental health while working in a high-pressure profession? Talking to a therapist can help. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session for either men’s counseling or women’s counseling.