Lois Sparkes, business development and quality manager at Mind in West Essex, on World Mental Health Day.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 is World Mental Health Day; a time to have conversations about what we can all do to enjoy good mental health.
This year for World Mental Health Day the theme is mental health at work - some information from the Mental Health Foundation tells us why this is a really important subject:
Fifteen per cent of all UK workers are estimated to have a mental health condition and 875,000 workers experienced work –related stress, depression and anxiety in 2022/23.
Work can be a major part of our adult lives, in communities, offices, schools, health care organisations, volunteering, and so many more places so it’s really important that wherever we work, our mental health is supported.
Many people who experience poor mental health try and hide their feelings in fear of other people’s responses. When we all come together to change the culture at work it’s so much easier for people to speak out, and get the support they need to live well.
We all deserve a mentally healthy workplace where we can thrive, so here are some ideas for what both employers and employees can do:
1. Talk about your feelings - if you are open about how you feel at work, especially if you’re a leader it might encourage other people to do the same.
2. Keep moving – do something physical every day to boost your self-esteem, maintain concentration and sleep better.
3. Eat well - and try to get a proper break away from desks and tasks to really enjoy your meal.
4. Drink well – too much caffeine can make us feel jittery, and not enough water makes us tired.
5. Maintain good relationships – make sure you have good connections with colleagues, and ensure you balance work and home life to maintain friendships, social and family life out of work.
6. Ask for help – we’re not superhuman, and sometimes when we’re tired, or overwhelmed we need a hand.
7. Take a break – just 5 minutes change of scenery will lift your mood.
8. Do something you’re good at – beating Wordle, completing a crossword, finishing the gardening reminds us we all have skills and talents.
9. Give some time to others - random acts of kindness boost our own sense of wellbeing, as well as making other people feel valued.
10. Sleep - probably the most important way to stay well at work is to get good sleep.
This World Mental Health Day have a conversation at work about what we can all do to create mentally healthy workplaces.
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