Why the Corporate World Is the Top Breeding Ground for Depression

Welcome to the Corporate World – Where the Fire Burns, But We Still Go In Welcome to the corporate world. Where bold mission statements are painted on office walls, not for the people who work there, but for the clients who bring in the money. Where productivity is praised, but people are forgotten. Where "success" wears a suit, but hides stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression behind its shiny desk. I was there. From 2012 to 2021, I lived in that cycle. Different companies. Same patterns. There was barely a year without depression or mental health struggles. Sure, once in a while, a mental health professional would come and give a talk. But the real change never came. Managers still threatened jobs. Mistakes were punished with insults. Suspensions were dished out for small things. Office politics and favoritism were normal. Colleagues sabotaged each other. But how could you quit? When the system is designed to make you believe that you need the salary to survive? It felt like a trap. I was mentally unwell, yet I had to show up every day to the same place that broke me. Like knowing fire burns but still walking into it because you can’t afford the electric stove. One time, a manager told a colleague, “If you leave, there are people out there who want this job.” Can you imagine? And the worst part? The salary that holds us hostage doesn’t even meet all our needs. At the very least, can’t we get a sound mind at work? I remember working at a Chinese firm in Ghana back in 2017. I was paid GHS 1,500. My transport alone cost GHS 980 every month. Add food, clothes, and other basics — and nothing was left. Then every end of the month, my boss would call a meeting and shout at us. He once asked me, “What did you do this month to deserve that salary?” That one question ruined my whole day. I found myself trying to impress him just to avoid more mental strain. Eventually, I quit. And that’s when I started to heal. You see, I’ve witnessed so many good people suffer in silence — scared to leave, scared to speak, because of bills and responsibilities. But I have one question: Is there any company in the corporate world where people go a whole month — just one month — happy, stress-free, and mentally sound? If there is, I want to know. If not, what can we do? What should be done? Because mental health in the corporate space is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. And the time to start talking about it, and fixing it... is now. Join us for the upcoming “NO HUMAN IS USELESS” Annual Conference in Ghana! We're diving deep into topics like: Overcoming Depression, Building Emotional Resilience, and Finding Purpose Let’s talk, heal, and build a future where no one has to burn just to eat. If you’ve ever struggled, felt unseen, worthless or care about mental wellness — we invite you to join us. Support this mission and let’s create a new story.