It is Mental Health Awareness Week and RealSense are encouraging everyone to “start the conversation” about mental health and those aspects of our lives that influence our mental health. To support mental health awareness week we are offering 50% off our Mental Health Awareness Online Training Course, developed with our partners Zentano (See our Discount Voucher code information below). Mental health problems are increasingly common in the workplace, with at least 25% of staff experiencing issues with their mental health including anxiety and depression. In recent times, there are early indications suggesting a number of contributing factors: “the Covid-19 pandemic (and measures taken by government to control it such as lockdown and social distancing) will have a significant impact upon the mental health of employees. It is very possible that these mental health implications will be felt for many months or even years”. “the Covid-19 pandemic (and measures taken by government to control it such as lockdown and social distancing) will have a significant impact upon the mental health of employees. It is very possible that these mental health implications will be felt for many months or even years”. In addition to this, over the last year, some employees have experienced bereavement, others may have had changes to their health such as long-Covid and the increase in employee reliance on alcohol and drugs whilst working from home has been well documented (See our previous article here). It is more important than ever that employers help reduce the stigma some employees still feel regarding mental health and try to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and confident to openly talk about any problems they may be experiencing. Why not use this Mental Health Awareness Week to talk to your employees about how they’re really feeling?
How Can I Support The Mental Health of My Employees?
Workplaces should continuously strive to provide a mentally well workplace by promoting a work/life balance and by ensuring that employees take regular breaks and know who to ask for help when they need it. Reasonable adjustments should be made to reduce stress in the workplace and many employees might need more support than previously in post-pandemic times. Managers and supervisors can benefit from Mental Health Awareness training to help them to understand how to help and support staff as a part of their ‘duty of care’ under the Health and Safety Act. Learning how to spot the signs of mental illness, stay mentally healthy and support others can also be a useful educational tool for all employees as a part of their health and wellbeing training. Here at Realsense, we are delighted to work in partnership with Leadership and Coaching Specialists Zentano and together with Psychotherapist and Performance Psychologist Andy Flack, we have developed our Mental Health Awareness Training course for employers and employees to use within the context of Health and Wellbeing in the workplace. Within the course, we offer support, hints and tips in addition to information and advice around mental health and support for employers to manage employee mental health in the workplace. An example of our Hints and Tips for a Work/Life Balance is below:
Hints and Tips for a Work/Life Balance
At Work:
- Set Manageable Goals
- Be Efficient with Your Time
- Ask for Flexibility If You Need It
- Take Regular Breaks
- Communicate
- Be Kind to Yourself
- End Your Working Day on Time
At Home:
- Unplug your devices!
- Don’t over-commit
- Be Supported
- Stay Active
- Look After your Health
- Prioritise Your own Well-being
Why is Mental Health Awareness Training Important?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) “Globally, an estimated 264 million people suffer from depression, one of the leading causes of disability, with many of these people also suffering from symptoms of anxiety”.
A recent WHO-led study estimates that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1trillion each year in lost productivity.
“Unemployment is a well-recognized risk factor for mental health problems, while returning to, or getting work is protective. However, a negative working environment may lead to physical and mental health problems, harmful use of substances or alcohol, absenteeism, and lost productivity. Workplaces that promote mental health and support people with mental disorders are more likely to reduce absenteeism, increase productivity and benefit from associated economic gains” explains the WHO-led study. The World Health Organisation stresses that it is increasingly important that employers work towards PROTECTING mental health by reducing work-related stress factors, PROMOTING mental health by developing positive aspects of work and the strengths of employees and ADDRESSING mental health problems regardless of their cause. Mental Health Awareness training can help organisations to achieve all these things. Within our Mental Health Awareness Training course, we use a simple model of the mind to understand mental health and explore the conscious and unconscious mind, our beliefs and their impact on mental health. The Mental health Continuum is explored including symptoms of various mental health conditions as well as the relationship between physical and mental health and the factors that may lead to mental health issues. Throughout the course, learners will explore their own self-awareness and become aware of changes to look out for (behavioural, emotional, bodily and psychological changes). We introduce ways of maintaining good mental health with a focus on challenging thoughts and building resilience as well as including tips to deal with worry and information about supporting your own mental health and that of your employees. The course includes a section specifically aimed at helping to support your mental health during the Covid 19 Pandemic as well as Tips to Manage Your Moods and Emotions. This Mental Health Awareness week, why not make it a workplace priority to protect, promote and address mental health?
Mental Health Awareness Training Free Course Trial
If you or your employees could benefit from a free trial of our Mental Health Awareness Online Training course, please click on the link and use Promo Code RS-MHW-21 once the course is in your basket. No other purchase is necessary but please feel free to browse our website and contact us at sales@real-sense.com if there’s anything else we can help you with.