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We Need to Talk About Mental Health for Software Developers
Five main risk factors and four fixes
In Stack Overflow’s 2020 Developer Survey — a research project that included participation from over 65K developers — 15% of respondents admitted having some type of mental issue, with anxiety and depression being the most common ones. These results indicate a significant prevalence of mental issues among coding professionals.
Yes, programming skills are in high demand, and there are many opportunities to build a stable career with a high salary and great perks. For many, that should be enough to live a satisfied and happy life. However, that is not how mental health works.
Programming can be a stressful, lonely, and life-consuming occupation, and many developers are struggling with emotional and mental disorders. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I think this is the perfect time to address this matter.
Risk Factors for Mental Issues in a Developer’s Career
Isolation
Contrary to what the “socially awkward nerd” stereotype may lead you to believe, a successful programming career requires some social skills. Programmers need to be able to discuss solutions with their team, mentor junior developers, report to managers, and expand their networks to progress in their jobs.
However, coding itself remains a solitary activity. It is simple as this: while your brain focuses on debugging, your eyes scroll down documentation, and your fingers type, you are not emotionally connecting with anyone.
Consequently, developers have to rely on co-worker relationships or maintain friendships outside work to fulfill their social needs. And this may not be as simple as it would seem.
Connecting with co-workers can be challenging. While some introverts may not identify with the Startup vibe of “beers and ping pong tables,” they may also not get amused by the diplomatic conversations inside the corporate world. Fitting in is even trickier for people from minority…
