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Mental health in the workplace - A new starter's perspective

Alya Mastapa

It has been two months since I joined the Clyde & Co Singapore office, and I must say it has been quite an intense journey since day one. 

Moving from another offshore firm, there’s not much difference in terms of my work scope but, I do need some time to get myself settled in with their culture and ways of working. I had anxiety and was emotionally drained. I was told that the team that I am working with, had high expectations on me, all because of the experience and skills that I had. 

As I’m new, I don’t know the teams level of ‘high expectations’. To be honest, I felt as if I started to drag my feet to the office. I had my mid-probation review with the Office Manager, and I decided to have an open conversation with my Team Leader. Little did I realise that it lifted my spirits from the moment we ended our conversation. I felt so light and relieved. Having someone to share with how one is feeling can really make a difference. I also had a chat with my team to discuss this to let them know how I was feeling,  and we discussed what can be done to counter this situation. Now, after more than two months of being in this office, I started to see my self-value. I started to appreciate my time here and being around the team. The mood is different now compared to when I first joined.

Being in this fast-paced environment, one can be easily drained mentally and physically. It's not only me, but I can see that my entire team is facing the same thing. I always emphasize to them to make sure that they take a few minutes to be away from their desk. Like ensuring they go and get their lunch or coffees, go the pantry and get some desserts as self-reward for working so hard. And most importantly, never stay up too late in the office.

My honest opinion, if anyone of you has ever felt the same way, please consider sharing your thoughts with someone that you are comfortable with. It is important for you to know that you are not alone. It can be from personal to work related issue or anything under the sun. If it’s troubling your mind, then it needs to be addressed.

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