Breaking down the barriers around mental health issues

There is still far too much stigma associated with mental health issues, which is incredibly disappointing considering the input so many have had over the last few years and the rapid growth in Mental Health at Work provision.

Sadly it seems that until some have actually experienced it first hand they will decry the suffering of others ‘she’s making it up’, ‘it’s all attention seeking’ etc.???I have seen first hand the devastating impact of cyber bullying from so called ‘friends’, the loneliness of life away from home, the impact of ‘work from home’ on those who live to escape the loneliness that their home life offers, the self-doubt, the loss of confidence and the withdrawal into self of hitherto confident individuals.

We need to break down the barriers further and banish the stigma – we wouldn’t say someone was faking it if they had a broken leg or cancer, and mental health issues deserve the same recognition.??What are you doing to break down barriers – at work, at home, in society in general?

ISO45003 provides a vehicle for organisations to review and consider how they are addressing issues related to psychosocial health and wellbeing and I am excited by the possibilities it offers and the way in which it will help organisations consider the wide range of issues which can and do result in mental health issues in the workplace,??and I hope that we see a really solid uptake in terms of organisations using the standard to consider and evaluate their provision and expand it as necessary.??