Mental Health: A Stiff Upper Lip is a Load Of-

Ok, so you’ve read about this from a business perspective. You’ve read what a business should be doing to support your mental health. But you’re one of the unlucky ones suffering yourself. Maybe you’re in a leadership role and feel like the support belongs to someone else – after all, you’re a manager, you should be strong for your team. Stiff upper lip and all that. Wrong. You need that support as much as anyone else.

First of all, please know that you are not alone. One in four people are estimated to suffer with ill mental health in any given year and it’s reported that as many as one in six people report struggling with common issues like depression and anxiety in any given week. Just to repeat: you are not alone.

Secondly, it’s important that you take care of yourself. Making simple changes to your life needn’t cost a fortune and are often easy enough to factor into your life straight away. So, what are they?

Try exercising. I get it, no one likes dragging themselves out for a jog when it looks like the rear end of a hurricane outside. When getting out of bed is sometimes the toughest part of your day, exercise can feel like the last thing on your mind. Lay your kit out for the first thing in the morning or as soon as you get back from work. Find something you enjoy – whether its running, swimming, walking or dancing – the more fun you have the more likely you are to stick with it! Want some facts? When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the brain to reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. Exercise – it’s a hell of a drug.

Now you’re exercising, consider how important diet is to your wellbeing. A lot of mental health issues stem from poor self-image – eating junk food often results in weight gain which then results in poor self-image which then leads to eating more junk food. It’s a horrible cycle and can be a hard one to break. Just think to yourself, whatever’s good for your physical health will be good for your mental health. You’ve certainly heard it all before, but lots of fruit and veg, limiting caffeine and sugar and necking pints of water will all work wonders for your health. You’ll begin to realise how important self-care is to your overall sense of wellbeing.

If your circumstances permit – get a pet. Dogs, cats, rabbits – they all love you unconditionally. Maybe there’s a bit of bias here, but if everyone greeted each other like a dog greets you after a long, hard day – the world would be a happier place. Animals listen without interruption or judgement – so you can vent, cry, complain without fear of social stigma and your animal pal will be there no matter what.

Fill your life with things that make you happy. Listen to that album you love. Get lost in that book you’ve been meaning to read. Go to the cinema. Watch the comedians you love on Netflix – after all, laughter is the best medicine. Surround yourself with people that make you happy. Paint. Write. Be creative. Anything that makes you happy is worth doing – make a habit of it and you’ll reap the rewards.

Drink sensibly. It’s easier said than done if a lot of your social circles revolve around alcohol. A beer here. A glass of wine there. All good in moderation but unfortunately alcohol is all too often used to mask other emotions or change your mood. The thing is, in drug classifications, alcohol is a depressant – so long term, it’s going to make you feel worse. Remember, alcohol only masks the problem – it doesn’t address or resolve the cause behind it. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, just keep it moderate.

And what to do if you can’t muster up any interest for these ideas? What to do if just getting through the day is becoming a struggle? Get help. None of us are superhuman and sometimes things just get too much. Just as your GP is the first call when you feel ill, they should also be who you speak to when your head isn’t in the right place. Your GP can make a diagnosis, refer you for various kinds of therapies, refer you to a mental health specialist, inform you about local support services and prescribe medication if necessary. There are also some alternative resources you can look to. Charities like Mind, The Samaritans and Rethink all offer practical advice, and places you can turn to when it all gets a bit too much.

It’s worth one final reminder. You are NOT alone. You do deserve help, and there is support out there when you need it.

There is support available:

Samaritans offer a 24/7 support service. Call them FREE on 116 123

NHS Choices: 24-hour helpline providing health advice and information. Call them free on 111.

C.A.L.M.: National helpline for men to talk about any issues they are feeling. Call 0800 58 58 58

MIND Infoline is available 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday on 0300 123 3393