Business. Beware of cutting support for your staff.

During times of economic crisis, what are the resources your businesses will be looking to cut? Advertising? Probably pretty near the top of the list. Exhibitions? This industry is in very bad shape for obvious reasons. Training? OK, so you may not be going on that outward bound management training weekend in the Lake District. Wellbeing for your staff?

Training and wellbeing support for your staff Have you cancelled courses? Have you put on hold that decision to bring in a health and mental wellbeing coach? Please, hang on to the scissors for a minute and see how counterproductive cutting these important resources can be as we continue to be challenged by the COVID crisis and looming recession.

As a Mental Health Practitioner and course provider I have been seeing clients with symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. One of the most prevalent issues is anxiety relating to work. In these difficult times workers often don't know if they will have a job in weeks to come. They don't know if there will be a second wave, whether furlough will be re-negotiated, even whether they will have a roof over their head this time next year.

There are some vital emotional needs that all humans need to have met in balance in order to keep mentally healthy and keeping cash aside for the resources that support mental health will keep your workforce mentally healthy and stronger for the times ahead.

Security From the CEO to the cleaning staff, all those who work in your organisation are likely to be experiencing some form of insecurity right now. They need to be listened to. Their worries should be understood and validated. Support should be given to anyone who asks for it and even those who don't, who are slipping through the net and not voicing their insecurities for fear of making their jobs even more unsafe.

Attention Are you so busy that you do not have the time or spare capacity to look after yourself, let alone all the people who work for you? Being able to give and receive attention keeps us feeling cared for. It gives us self worth and status, meaning and purpose - a reason to carry on. Are you struggling to get this need met?

Control Many people feel that they are not in control of their home and work lives or their environment. Whether it is fear of the virus, difficulties surrounding remote working or commuting to work, the feeling of being out of control leads to high levels of stress and anxiety and when this is prolonged and not dealt with - burnout.

Achievement People should be learning until their last breath IMHO. In this current climate many of us may be just trying to keep our heads above water. You may be surprised how many new skills you have learned these past four months. Can you offer a short, online training course to your staff to add to their skillset? Perhaps it could be in the form of a reward for hitting a target or because a valued customer has given good feedback.

Feeling competent builds confidence and resilience and we all need more of that right now. Free podcasts, webinars, Ted Talks and You Tube tutorials have their place. Proper online training with engagement and feedback is far superior and there are many courses available priced very competitively. Maybe get your team to shop around.

This is how you can support yourself and your staff

Make sure that your mental health is in good condition. If you are beginning to feel symptoms or your behaviour has changed then get help now. If you recognise it in your work colleagues then get help now. Don't let a creeping mental health crisis seep into your organisation. The NHS are very likely to have long waiting lists and mental health charities are also having a hard time. Just four sessions with a local professional Counsellor can reap huge benefits and prevent a mild case of anxiety or depression becoming a major one that could keep your staff off work - and you.

The mental health crisis predicted is not just coming in the months ahead as a tsunami, the waves are already lapping at the shore. Be prepared. Act now.

Sally Nilsson is a Human Givens Therapist (www.hgi.org.uk). She works with individuals and organisations and has developed four, two hour modules on Zoom which are reasonably priced - Managing Change, Overcoming Anxiety, Remote Working and Workplace Stress - all focused on mental health during the current health and economic crisis. Please get in touch. I'm listening...

www.freshstart.me.uk