Mental health at work: 7 resources

Posted on 10th October by Dawn Sillett

World Mental Health Day takes place on 10 October every year, hosted by the World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH). 2017 marks the 25^th anniversary. This year the focus is on mental health in the workplace, with events taking place globally. WFMH produces a themed report each year; for 2017 they’ve got an impressive list of contributors, practical advice – and some scary statistics – it’s well worth a read.

Why should we bother about mental health at work? Take your pick from any of the following:

Workplaces can be the cause of mental health problems, due to overload, long hours and poor people management
Employers stand to lose a great deal of productivity and profit due to mental health problems in the workplace, as performance deteriorates and sick leave is required
Poor mental health affects concentration: accidents can occur
Stigmatising mental health problems in the workplace can deter people from seeking the help they desperately need
Poor mental health can see skilled people exit the workforce
We can all take positive action to create healthier, happier and more productive places to work.

7 resources to boost mental health and wellbeing – at work and beyond

Time to Change encourages people to sign their pledge and become an Employee Champion, contributing to the charity’s aim to help end mental health stigma in the workplace.
Mind, the mental health charity, has a handy video encouraging us to breathe more deeply – and feel calmer.
Take these stress management tips from my fellow Concise Advice author Phil Dobson.
Pause for thought about your social support at work; Dr Ken Nowack reports on his research that shows interesting gender differences in availability and satisfaction with social support.
Plagued by worry? Head over to the wonderful Headspace blog for some simple-once-you-know-it advice.
Tips and thoughts from yours truly to boost awareness of our thoughts and feelings (and why we’ll benefit from being clear about which we’re dealing with).
Another way we can all boost our wellbeing is to get smart about our smartphone use. Check out this Australian article on ‘Why we’re leaving social media in droves’.