44 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk July / August 2023 - Issue 343 SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOCUS ON / MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS With Mental Health Awareness Month taking place in May, and Mental Health Awareness Week from May 15th to 21st we highlight some of the support and resources available for within the workplace and at home Mental health is often a topic that is seen as taboo due to people not wanting to seem vulnerable or be seen to be struggling. This can be particularly exacerbated in the workplace due to concerns over not being seen to be able to complete tasks or responsibilities to the required standard, or not feeling like you can open up on a personal level with colleagues or work associates. The reality is, every week in England, six in 100 people will be diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder (Mind), with less than 50% of people with generalised anxiety disorder accessing treatment (Mental Health Foundation). Research from mentalhealth.org.uk also shows that in Britain, mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental disorder, with four in 10% of people in England experiencing depression in their lifetime. Just like our physical health, mental illhealth can be something that accumulates over a period of time, can be triggered by life events, or it can seemingly strike out of the blue due to no apparent reason. Because of this, it is important to access resources and support when you are struggling, as well as reach out to trusted colleagues, family members, or friends to share how you feel. The statistics speak for themselves, and it is a fact that most people have experienced some form of mental ill-health in their life, so it’s also important to remember you are not alone. It takes bravery and courage to open up about how you are feeling, but it can also open the door for others to follow suit. Mental Health Awareness The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week was Anxiety. A common emotion many will experience across their lives, but sometimes anxiety can spiral and become out of control, affecting daily tasks and generally hindering quality of life. With the current state of the world, it is understandable that anxiety levels will be higher with the pressure of the cost of living crisis and the worry and stress caused by situations such as the war in Ukraine. A number of things can also lead to feelings of anxiety, such as the loss of a loved one, losing or starting a new job, relationship pressures and breakdowns, and so on. The aim of focusing on anxiety for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week was to raise awareness of anxiety and to provide information on how to prevent it from affecting your daily life, as well as how to access support if it is. Wellbeing in the Workplace The good news is, as more people open up and speak about their own mental health struggles, the issue slowly becomes less of a taboo. This is being seen in research from Nuffield Health’s 2023 Healthier Nation Index report. According to the study, mental health transparency at work is on the rise and now over 1 in 4 people feel comfortable openly discussing with their employers if they need time off due to poor mental health. The number of people calling in sick due to poor mental health but giving another reason has also come down from 39% in 2022 to 35% in 2023. Whilst there is still a way to go, these figures show there is a positive shift in how employees are communicating with their workplaces around mental and emotional wellbeing. “As well as the day-to-day worries that come with our personal and working lives, employees have also had to deal with the impact of a global pandemic and now the ongoing cost-of-living crisis,” says Lisa Gunn, mental health prevention lead at Nuffield Health. “All these stressors combined can significantly affect the mental health of employees, so it’s more important than ever that businesses find ways to create open, transparent, and connected workplace environments.” Some of the suggestions made by Nuffield on how businesses can practically implement this include: 1. Notice when anxiety is presenting itself in colleagues and employees 2. Keep talking and actively listening to what’s being said 3. #Find 5 – dedicate five extra minutes each day to focus on your own mental health 4. Be open about formal support such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or Employee Assistance Programmes 5. Allow people to choose the support that is best for them Keep Talking During Mental Health Awareness Month ▲ Mental Health Awareness Week runs in May with a different theme each year
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