Let’s Talk About It: Layoffs and Mental Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and honestly, the timing couldn’t be better.
Between back-to-back layoffs, budget cuts, and vague “organizational changes,” it feels like we’re all walking around with one eye on Slack and the other on our sanity. Maybe you’ve recently been impacted by a layoff. Maybe you’re anxiously refreshing your inbox, hoping not to see “restructuring updates” in the subject line. Maybe you’re still employed but carrying the emotional baggage of survivor’s guilt. No matter what, you’re not alone.
This economy has everyone questioning their life choices and their LinkedIn profiles.
Feeling Bad and Feeling Bad About Feeling Good
Losing a job isn’t just a financial blow. It’s also an emotional one. Careers are closely tied to our sense of purpose, security, and identity. So when a job ends, it’s not just about finding new employment. It’s also about navigating a whole mix of grief, stress, uncertainty, and pressure.
Even if you still have your job, it doesn’t mean you’re mentally in the clear. There’s a very real phenomenon called layoff survivor’s guilt, where the employees who are left behind feel anxious, overwhelmed, and even guilty for still having a paycheck. They watch colleagues and friends pack up their desks and feel grateful it’s not them, but then they feel guilty for feeling grateful. They’re also anxiously wondering if they’re going to be next.
If you’ve found yourself attending every “optional” meeting just to make sure leadership still remembers your name, congratulations… you’re officially part of the club.
Taking Mental Health Matters Seriously
It’s not all doom and gloom. There is one small silver lining to all of this: companies and individuals are finally taking mental health issues more seriously. Wellness initiatives are moving beyond the free meditation apps and walking meetings. Now, organizations are having real conversations about burnout and offering therapy stipends and mental health days.
Navigating the emotional aftershocks of layoffs, job loss, or career instability requires more than toxic positivity and a free branded water bottle.
Acknowledging that this is hard and it’s okay that it feels hard.
Recognizing that fear and grief are normal reactions to job loss.
Prioritizing mental health not just during May, but all year long.
You Are Not Broken, The System Is
If you’re struggling right now, whether it’s from job loss, job insecurity, or just straight-up mental exhaustion, please remember it’s not because you’re weak. It’s because you’re living through some of the most volatile professional times in recent history.
So be kind to yourself. Take the PTO day. Update your resume if you need the peace of mind. Schedule the therapy session. And if you’re feeling especially bold, close your laptop at 5 PM without feeling the need to justify it to yourself or anyone else.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, the message is simple:
Your career matters, but your mental health? That’s non-negotiable.
Only one is replaceable. Take care of you.