Mental Health Awareness Month 2023

What is Mental Health Awareness Month?

Mental Health Awareness Month (May) is an annual global event that aims to raise awareness about mental health and promote the importance of taking care of one's mental health.

The month focuses on different themes each year, but the objective remains the same, to educate people about mental health issues, reduce stigma and discrimination against those with mental illnesses, and provide resources for support and coping strategies.?

This year's theme is ‘anxiety’. Campaigns are set up to help people and organisations understand the differences between anxiety and anxiety disorders, plus give people the confidence to seek the right support.

What is Mental Health?

Mental health is a term that refers to your overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It's about how you feel about yourself, your ability to manage your?feelings, and your ability to cope with the challenges of life.

It's important to take care of your mental health because it can impact every aspect of your life, including your relationships, your academic performance, and your physical health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1 in 4, people will experience some form of mental illness at some point in their lives. That's a lot of people! And unfortunately, mental health issues can often go untreated, which can make things worse.

Mental Health at Work

Mental health is a critical component of overall well-being, and it's essential that we take steps to ensure that it's protected, especially in the workplace. 15% of working-age adults were estimated to have a mental disorder in 2019. According to the World Health Organization, globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety at a cost of US$ 1 trillion per year in lost productivity.

How work affects our mental health?

Work can exacerbate mental health conditions in several ways, such as high workload and stress, poor work-life balance, job insecurity, workplace harassment and discrimination, and lack of support and resources. Employers must recognize these factors and take steps to mitigate their impact on employee mental health.

Some common signs of poor mental health at work include fatigue and exhaustion, increased absenteeism and presenteeism, decreased productivity and concentration, mood swings and irritability, and physical symptoms such as headaches and muscle tension.?

How can employers support mental health?

To promote mental health in the workplace, employers can encourage work-life balance, provide resources for mental health support, create a positive work environment, promote open communication and support, and offer flexible work options.

Employers have a critical role to play in promoting mental health in the workplace. They can support employee mental health by providing training on mental health awareness, encouraging regular mental health check-ins, implementing policies and procedures to support mental health, and addressing workplace harassment and discrimination.

Prioritizing mental health in the workplace is not just the right thing to do, but it's also a smart business decision. Employees who experience poor mental health at work are more likely to be absent, less productive, and have higher turnover rates, resulting in significant financial losses for employers.

In conclusion, Mental Health Awareness Month is an important initiative that promotes positive mental health and well-being for all. Employers must recognize the impact of work on employee mental health and promote mental health in the workplace to create a healthy work environment that fosters employee well-being and productivity.

By taking steps to protect mental health, we can reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and provide resources for support and coping strategies, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a fulfilling life with good mental health.

Author

Carl Steptowe?~ Digital Marketing Executive

Buckingham Futures HQ

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