Monday 15th May marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week.
Support for those suffering from their mental health is vitally important. We all have a role to play.
Creating awareness and encouraging positive mental and physical health and wellbeing at work is also important.
Some of us may be more resilient than others, whilst others may find it more difficult to bounce back from heightened stress levels.
Many factors may impact and influence our ability to cope and manage work-related stress such as our skills, experience, age, and physical abilities.
Work-related stress impacts us emotionally, physically and our behaviour.
Stress is the main cause of long-term absence from work in the UK
Approximately 18 million working days are lost due to work-related stress, every year. 800,000 UK employees were affected by work-related stress, anxiety, and depression in 2020-2021.
It is important to acknowledge and have awareness of potential stress factors and how to manage them. This in turn will help reduce the risk of poor mental and physical health negatively impacting us.
Employers have a legal duty of care to protect their employees from stress in the workplace by carrying out risk assessments.
What things can contribute to work-related stress?
- Increased workload
- Unrealistic deadlines
- Lack of support from management and colleagues
- Bullying in the workplace
- Lack of clarity in job role and expectations
- Changes at the workplace
Who can you talk to?
- Manager/s
- HR
- Mental Health First Aider
- Colleague
- PEAP counsellor
There is a difference between stress and pressure, and it is essential to be able to differentiate the two.
Pressure can act as a motivator and therefore have a positive impact and assist us to achieve a target or goal. This can be in all aspects of our lives, personal and workplace.
Stress is our body’s way of dealing with and handling pressure.
Our top tips for dealing with stress
- Talk things through with someone you trust or a professional
- Risk assess your own work life. What are the main causes of stress and how can you reduce the risk
- Discuss your work with colleagues
- Ensure clear job roles and responsibilities
- Take regular breaks
- Use a to-do list
- Breathing and mindfulness exercises
- Develop and build your resilience
- Eat, stay hydrated and exercise
- Aim for 8 hours of sleep per day