On 10th October 2020 it is World Mental Health Day – a fundamental time for everyone to open up to mental health, to listen and to share.
The World Health Organisation defines mental health as ‘a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community’.
All of us should have an environment in which we feel safe and supported when talking about our mental health. The stigmatism around mental health often leaves people feeling embarrassed, isolated and ashamed. Or, it prevents people from seeking professional support, finding employment or having open conversations.
We have created a toolkit with resources to help with your day-to-day mental health, both in and out of the workplace which you can access here.
Here are some stats to put mental health in the workplace and during COVID-19 into perspective:
– According to Mind, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England.
– The most common issues affecting wellbeing are worrying about the future (63%), feeling stressed or anxious (56%) and feeling bored (49%).
– In a survey of UK adults undertaken by Time to Change in 2009, 56% said they would not hire someone with depression even if they were the best candidate for the job.
Our eight step guide to maintaining positive mental and physical well-being:
1. Stay connected to people, regularly speak with your work colleagues, family and friends.
2. Create a structure to your day, take regular breaks and adapt your schedule to suit your current situation.
3. Plan your week with things to look forward to – this will minimise procrastination and feelings of helplessness.
4. Keep your private and professional activities separate, to ensure efficiency and to maintain a BE:DO balance.
5. Regularly practice physical exercise and relaxation (meditation and mindfulness) to ensure your mental and physical well-being.
6. Be selective with your time and try to do something that relaxes your mind. This could vary from watching something funny on TV, going for a walk, reading a book or catching up on the news.
7. To keep energised, devote time to creative activities and at the end of the day review what you have achieved.
8. Ensure you are eating at regular times, and have a balanced and varied diet to maintain energy levels and boost your immune system.
Top 5 Mental Health Books
1. Think Like A Monk – Jay Shetty
2. Zero Negativity: The Power of Positive Thinking – Ant Middleton
3. How to Build a Healthy Brain – Kimberley Wilson
4. Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving – Pete Walker
5. Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope – Johann Hari
Top 5 Podcasts for Well-Being
1. The Nod (Apple Podcast, Stitcher and Soundcloud)
2. Mental Illness for Happy Hour (Apple Podcast, Stitcher and Soundcloud)
3. The Happiness Lab (Apple Podcast and Stitcher)
4. The Hilarious Word for Depression (Apple Podcast and Stitcher)
5. Let’s Talk About Mental Health (Spotify)
This is our Wellbeing Checklist: How many will you complete? Share on socials and tag us @stressmattershq
1. Download our Workplace Wellbeing Checklist 2020 from our website today!
2. Try these fun quizzes to get your mental health knowledge up to speed! Mental Health Stigma Pub Quiz
3. How to approach your team: Do you supervise or manage people?
4. Invest in your employees and colleagues by making them mentally health aware. MHFA England values this course at £125pp but we bring this accredited course to you for the heavily discounted cost of £60pp + VAT to support you at this difficult time.
5. If you are a part of the events industry find your support buddy or join us at one of our support circles, for free.
6. Buy one of the recommended top five mental health books and tag us on social media! @stressmattershq
7. Listen to one of the recommended top five podcasts and tag us on social media! @stressmattershq
We hope that all of the information above raises your awareness of Mental Health. It can be a very sensitive but important topic that needs to be openly discussed.
If you have any queries or would like more information about what Stress Matters do, please contact us at pledgesupport@stressmatters.org.uk
