The Relevance of Coaching in Transforming Mental Health

With employee mental health costs spiralling, how beneficial would it be if businesses could unlock the gateway to transforming these costs into gains?

Yes, your eyes haven't deceived you, gains, gains, gains, you've read it right. Now imagine how your life and business would transform by spending this extra income on those important projects, increasing your employee salaries, and keep growing your business.

Depending on the size of your business, this can quickly run into millions or 10's millions of pounds of additional capital a year, every year, year after year, and that’s where we will go in article two of this series, but in this first article lets analyse the current situation better facing every company globally as well as here in the UK.

Many leaders are searching for solutions to workplace challenges throughout the World, such as never before, especially in the UK, where Brexit has significantly added to the cost-of-living crisis and doing business with the EU, the world's third-biggest economy. These crises are a cause of grave concern to many CEOs and business owners as they worry about how both they and their staff will cope with the impact of these extra mental stressors. That is sure to disaffect organisational productivity, performance, and profits and significantly impact the mental well-being of all concerned.

In recent years the UK has seen an upsurge of companies looking at ways to support their employee's mental well-being. Initially, this was brought about by the Government Report, Thriving at work in late 2017, which revealed that 300,000 people with long-term mental health problems lose their job each year.

Then throughout the pandemic and post-pandemic, more companies looked at various ways to support employees' mental help. Yet mental health costs are still soaring. A recent report by the Mental Health Foundation and the London School of Economics and Political Science said its costs are at least ￡117.9 billion, equivalent to 5% of UK GDP.

And although this report is not specific to employees' mental health and based more on the mental health costs to the UK Economy. It is said to be a significant under-estimate of the actual costs, with one factor being that no costs are included in the report for reduced performance at work due to mental health problems.

And as this article from Forbes grimly forecasts, states: If we do not address the problems now, the mental health pandemic will become unmanageable. Rates of depression are ever-increasing due to the impact loneliness, and loss can have on our mental health. By the end of 2021, 70% of the global population reported that they were struggling or suffering, and numerous other studies have found similar results.

Cumulatively, all this show’s that more must be done to support employees with mental health.

Yet many colleagues past and present I've spoken with have revealed their multiple fears around utilising numerous well-being tools in the workplace, with many stating they wouldn’t tell their bosses if they were suffering mentally because of fears mainly of losing their job or being deemed unfit to continue in their role.

These fears may or may not be unfounded, but many in workplaces still subconsciously create this reality companies are desperately trying to avoid. In their minds, when mental health is mentioned instantaneously, they reject that they are the problem.

Most companies in the UK last few years have adopted an approach of training Mental Health First Aiders, but colleagues in various places I've worked share concerns such as confidentially and trust issues. Some share that they even question the suitability of some being trained as MHFA’s, and at an Oil Refinery I worked on in the past; the senior HR Executive there revealed to me that this training hadn’t been utilised by staff and in their opinion, had been a waste of time and resources. ?And how bringing external coaches would have been much more effective.

Few even stated that if they were to feel unwell mentally, they would already know where to look without being signposted to most likely local NHS services or support groups by a workplace MHFA. Looking at it objectively, though, as it’s always wise to do so, others thought it was a good idea to have someone to talk to in the workplace.

Quite a few colleagues who have been inspired by my transformational coaching and training journey with Tony J. Selimi said that it would fill them with dread attending local NHS Mental Health Services because of the limitations of these services, and they would much prefer to work with Tony. This knowledge shared came from what they had read and heard, especially around the prevalent use of and side effects of medication, waiting times, and the experiences they have heard from others, who have tried to, or have accessed these services. Mainly because although the NHS is a great institution, its limitations regarding the resources needed to implement workable mental health support are well known.

I must admit that a cold shudder runs through me too. Because of my knowledge of the confines of this system and the memories retained from my 20 years spent within the system where I and practically all I met, pains only increased until they became inscrutable.

These fears expressed aren’t baseless either, but well-founded as a survey published in early 2020 by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman found that one in five people did not feel safe while in the care of the NHS mental health service that treated them. And over half of the people with mental health problems in England also said they experienced delays in their treatment, while four in ten (42%) said they waited too long to be diagnosed.

So, taking all of this into objective consideration, it's evident why many CEOs, business leaders who are serious about supporting employee mental health, have personal reservations before they embark on helping people who may be in perilous situations.

Why?

Because it could become deadly serious for those who reach out for help, and those doing the signposting, should the support not meet the expectations of those in need, as I wrote in this article in 2017.

Yet, this two-part series of articles was written genuinely to give an alternative solution and to allay the fears many have when considering all mentioned above, and in article two, it’ll be my pleasure to share more of these solutions with you, and how, as mentioned you can transform those costs into millions in gains, as well as transform and more importantly save lives.

But before coming to that, perhaps you'd like to view this comparison. If you have a computer system full of viruses, what do you think is likely to happen to a new healthy laptop when added to this system? Well, wouldn't you expect it, within no time to become unhealthy also? Most likely, yes.

So why make mention of this? Wouldn't you consider it the same with employee mental health solutions? If your current work environment isn’t built for or looking to fully integrate to support employee mental health, as a recent Deloitte report on spiraling costs related to employee mental health would suggest, many working environments aren’t, or they are struggling with how to do so.

Putting mental health add-ons on top, or adding these patches, to an already unhealthy environment, especially if you’re not looking to get to the bottom of why many are working in mentally sick environments?

In time wouldn’t these add-ons and patches most likely become corrupted or sick too?

This article from Forbes on ‘The Futility Of Mental Health Days’ would suggest that the answer would be yes because relying on another method such as mental health days means employees will only return to the same working conditions that caused their leave.

So, perhaps given all the evidence above, you’d like to consider this as well when it comes to signposting people to help that may or may not exist or takes too long to access. The impacts this could have on them and their family and loved ones' lives, as well as the returning to working environments that remain sick and toxic, primarily if they've previously utilised all the support systems available, because where will they go from here?

This is what a cognition expert like Tony J. Selimi, who specialises in human behaviour and maximising human capital, can do for you and your business. I've observed how he moves people into full transformation and can immediately allay all the fears mentioned above. Tony is like no other coach and trainer as he offers an amalgamation of thirty years of study and cross-disciplinary research. I've witnessed these transformations not only with myself but with all his clients. No matter what problem you are facing, he makes you feel safe in his presence and creates a trustworthy environment where people can share their issues they couldn't come to do so with anyone else.

You may want to ponder how crucial this is for you and your staff, as it was for me too, because how can we possibly heal the wounds of our past if we cannot discuss them with someone we trust? It was the same for me, as I didn't feel safe or that I could talk about these pains with another person completely until I started being coached by Tony.

Recently, following on from my series of continuing Facebook Live videos, more and more colleagues I work with and clients on projects to whom I am there to be of service. As a result of sharing my coaching journey, they have begun opening up to me on issues affecting them and their families. Issues such as alcoholism, suicidal thoughts, past attempts to end their lives, and how family members with poor mental health impact their quality of life and others within their family circle. Even how the suicide of a friend had profound, lasting impacts on their mental well-being, as well as another who tragically lost their sibling at a young age.

Some share how they feel at the end of their tether or how horrific they felt their medication experience, mirroring where I was seven years ago. Others ask how I found the space to allow my mind to breathe and talk openly and confidently about mental health with no fear. My answer is that I couldn't have done any of it without Tony as my mentor, healer, coach, and teacher.

Having Tony as my trusted coaching partner was relevant in everything I've achieved, written and everything that others now see for themselves in me. The articles and videos were achievable and brought to life because of Tony's holistic approach to coaching and training.

What struck me also was that all who have confided in me have many things in common. They are all men working in the UK Oil & Gas Industry, and they all believe more must be done asap. All without fail immediately downloaded Tony's books because, having seen the transformation in me, knowing that it is natural, they were intrigued, curious, and wanted to learn more.

On reflection, all of this tells me that there is a genuine Mental Health crisis in the UK Oil & Gas Industry, and looking at the studies and reports, it's likely only going one way, but there is a solution. Tony J. Selimi and his scientific and holistic training, coaching and methods are the answer, the prayer to all within the industry's fears, doubts, issues, and pains.

In the past, many who don't know me have laid accusatory comments at me for promoting Tony’s work, even saying I'm looking for fame. Without considering the fears, I had to overcome, such as whether fostering mental health in the workplace would cost me my job, even my home, or make it harder for me to find work in the future.

But more importantly, I know from my heart that I’m sharing a solution to all our mental health problems, not just in the UK but Globally. Sharing and talking openly about my personal experiences working with this inspiring teacher has saved a few lives and inspired many more to reach out to him and change their lives for the better and forever.

On the other hand, others who are curious souls ask me how it is. I know, well, having experienced all that I have with suffering from near to 40 separate mental health illnesses simultaneously every day and over 120 different forms of OCD from age 17 for over 20 years. Until I met Tony, and now living a life completely free of all this, I know, same as you, and I see the world is round because to experience the depth of his work and the transformations it creates from within is incredible.

And after hearing from a growing number at work of their struggles in just the last few weeks and how they would love to meet Tony, hear more about his teachings and how they can transform their lives. Surely this would be a wise decision because hiring Tony to speak at your company, coach your employees, and deliver training is a priceless experience that pays dividends repeatedly. And given the current daily costs, which would you prefer to continue losing millions whilst training novices, or to transform these millions into gains whilst simultaneously changing people and companies' lives for the better forever?

By hiring an expert who's spent over 30 years studying and researching to help others reach the desired optimal results, all who have confided in me these past few weeks is what they are truly searching for, as is every company worldwide.

Why do I know he can also do this, transform the millions lost into gains? Because in 2017, I utilised all he taught me at work to create an efficient permit-to-work system for part of a project that I was working on.

So efficient was this permit system that it contributed to generating ￡10's of millions for the UK economy. Something that many within the UK Oil & Gas industry, inclusive of a CEO of one of the Top Ten Global Major Oil & Gas Operators, was not only inspired by. But in agreement with, after reading the full report on how this was achieved, a report I still have.

How relevant are all the issues discussed to you and your success as you build working environments that support your employees' growth, mental health and well-being? Coaching can enhance company-wide performance, deliver needed changes, save costs and transform business, careers and lives; ask any top Gold Medal-winning athlete, and they are sure to say coaching helped them get where they are. So yes, coaching is relevant to all you are trying to achieve.

Paul McMonagle Piping Supervisor, Workpack Engineer, Area Lead and Mental Health Ambassador

P.S. Tony J. Selimi - is an Award-Winning Author, Speaker, and Transformational Life and Business Coach Specialising in Human Behaviour, Leadership Excellence, and Maximising Human Potential. Winner of the London SME Most Visionary Entrepreneur , Corporate Coaching and Recruitment Business Coach of the Year Award . Recipient of Silver Literary Management Book, Book Excellence, and Maincreast Media Book Award for A Path to Wisdom , #Loneliness , The Unfakeable Code?, and A Path to Excellence in the following categories: Personal Growth and Development, Inspirational, Motivational, New Age, Business and Leadership, Self-Help, and Self-Improvement.

PS – Tony works on a virtual basis and in-person with clients all over the globe, facilitating the realisation and accomplishment of personal, professional, and business goals. Here are four ways he can assist you in creating life-changing breakthroughs, growth, and accelerating your journey to excellent health, influence, and success.

#1… Book a Breakthrough Consultation Session by sending an email to?[email protected] .

#2 ... Grab your copy of Tony’s #1 Amazon bestselling and Multi-Award-Winning books, A Path to Wisdom , #Loneliness , The Unfakeable Code?, and A Path to Excellence. Enrol in his Mindfulness for Higher Productivity, Performance, and Profitable Life Udemy Course! Click here to join thousands of his happy students.

#3 ... Make the fastest progress by hiring Tony to work with you on your business and train your leaders and teams. Just e-mail [email protected] and let his team know a little about you or your business and what you'd like to work on with Tony, and they'll get you the quote, invoice, and the necessary booking details.

?#4 ... Book Tony for your TV/Radio/Podcast or hire him as a speaker to educate, inspire and transform your audience at your next company or industry event. Send an e-mail to [email protected] with your event info, and once they hear from you, they'll send you back the contract and fee info.

For more information, go to https://tonyselimi.com .