Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Mental Health at Work” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Understanding Mental Health
1. What does mental health mean to you?
2. Why is mental health important at work?
3. Can you name some common mental health issues people might face?
4. How does stress affect your mental health?
5. Do you think physical health is connected to mental health? How?

II. Mental Health Challenges at Work
6. Have you ever felt stressed because of work? Why?
7. What do you think causes mental health issues at work?
8. Can working too much affect your mental health? How?
9. How can conflicts at work impact your mental health?
10. Do you think remote work has a positive or negative impact on mental health? Why?

III. Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace
11. What can companies do to support mental health?
12. Do you think taking breaks during work is important for mental health? Why?
13. How important is it to have a work-life balance?
14. What role do managers play in supporting employees’ mental health?
15. Can team-building activities improve mental health at work? How?

IV. Recognizing Mental Health Issues
16. How can you tell if someone at work is struggling with their mental health?
17. Should you talk to your coworkers if you notice they are struggling? How?
18. What are the signs of burnout?
19. Why might someone hide their mental health issues at work?
20. How can we create an environment where people feel safe to talk about mental health?

V. Personal Experiences with Mental Health at Work
21. Have you or someone you know ever experienced mental health issues at work? What happened?
22. How did you or they cope with mental health challenges at work?
23. What changes would you like to see in your workplace to improve mental health?
24. Have you ever taken a day off for mental health reasons? How did you feel about it?
25. How do you manage stress from work?

VI. Mental Health Resources and Help
26. What kind of help is available for someone experiencing mental health issues at work?
27. Do you think employers should offer mental health days? Why or why not?
28. How can counseling or therapy help with work-related mental health issues?
29. Should companies provide training on mental health? What should it include?
30. How can coworkers support each other’s mental health?

VII. The Role of Leadership in Mental Health
31. How can leaders show they care about their employees’ mental health?
32. What should a leader do if an employee comes to them with a mental health issue?
33. Can the leadership style of a manager affect the mental health of employees? How?
34. Why is it important for leaders to be open about mental health?
35. How can leaders create a culture that promotes good mental health?

VIII. Work Environment and Mental Health
36. How does the physical work environment affect mental health?
37. Can a positive work culture improve mental health? How?
38. What are the benefits of having a quiet space at work?
39. How can work flexibility contribute to better mental health?
40. Why is it important to have clear communication at work?

IX. Balancing Work and Personal Life
41. How do you balance your work and personal life?
42. What are the signs that work is negatively affecting your personal life?
43. How can employers help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance?
44. What strategies can you use to disconnect from work during your free time?
45. Why is it important to have hobbies outside of work?

X. The Future of Mental Health at Work
46. How do you think the approach to mental health at work will change in the future?
47. What role will technology play in supporting mental health at work?
48. Can virtual reality be used to improve mental health in the workplace? How?
49. What are the challenges of addressing mental health at work in the future?
50. How can we ensure that mental health is a priority in all workplaces?

XI. Overcoming Stigma
51. Why do you think there is a stigma around mental health at work?
52. How can we reduce the stigma of mental health in the workplace?
53. Have you ever felt judged for talking about mental health at work? How did it make you feel?
54. What can we do to make it easier for people to talk about mental health?
55. Why is it important to overcome the stigma of mental health?

XII. Personal Development and Mental Health
56. How can personal development improve your mental health at work?
57. Do you think learning new skills can affect your mental health? How?
58. How important is it to set personal goals for mental health?
59. Can achieving work goals improve your mental health? Why or why not?
60. What personal development activities would you recommend to someone looking to improve their mental health at work?

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