Advice to employees starting a new job commonly includes things like leaving details about their personal life at the door before starting each work day and keeping things professional.

As mental health awareness improves across Australia however, employees are being encouraged to be more open about ways their emotions may be affecting their work.

A Galaxy poll indicated about one in five Australians had experienced a mental health condition in the past twelve months, and nearly half would experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.

The poll revealed nearly 20 per cent of workers felt anxiety, 16.3 per cent experienced depression and 27.3 per cent were stressed.

The data showed mental health issues had significantly increased since 2011, with rates rising more than eight per cent to a total of 3,747,000 people.

Those living with depression and anxiety, the two most common conditions, may find it difficult concentrating throughout the work day, and with simple tasks like getting out of bed in the morning.

Despite the prevalence of mental health problems in Australia, seeking support from your boss or colleagues can still be daunting due to some underlying stigma that still exists in society.

While many will prefer to keep their mental health private, it could be beneficial to be open about the things you’re dealing with in the workplace.

Honesty could hold the key, according to psychologist Lana Hall from Sage & Sound, who encourages workers to “raise the issue with your boss if your mental health is affecting your ability to do your job, even if that feels scary”.

“Most workplaces have become more supportive and aware of mental health concerns. Telling your boss you’re struggling shows them you’re committed to the job – rather than [having] your actions and mood interpreted as being related to not liking or valuing your job anymore,” she says.