Mental Health Awareness month UK

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness month in the UK? Working hard and being involved in running a business can be very uplifting and rewarding but it also takes a lot of effort, sacrifice and hard work. It can bring a lot of pressure and be overwhelming at times causing issues with mental health. It’s important to have some safety valves to relieve pressure and stop the overwhelm becoming damaging.

According to Mental Health Foundation:

Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing. We thrive when we have strong connections with other people and supportive communities that remind us, we are not alone. Communities can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and give us a sense of purpose.

Being part of a community can make life feel more meaningful and enjoyable, help us feel happier and safer, and improve our mental health. Yet sometimes, although we’re all part of communities, we don’t always realise the benefits for our mental health.

Spending time with other people outside of the work environment is a positive action to take, joining other communities, groups or social activities. But what can you do inside the work environment to reduce pressure and stress? Supported employees will be more engaged and productive, no one is at their best when stressed. It is in your company’s interest to make sure that all employees are well supported and looked after as much as is possible, yourself included.

The Federation of Small Businesses suggests that a supportive culture is a great place to start. Train and equip managers to spot when someone needs some extra support and encourage regular check-ins with employees. Where possible, implement a flexible working environment and a safe and healthy workplace. And last but not least promote mental health resources. Many companies will have an employee assistance programme which gives employees access to professionals such as counsellors, therapists and other health professionals which can offer a variety of supports and employees should be encouraged to make use of these.

The Mental Health Foundation offer some very practical tips on how to take preventative measures if you are currently feeling good. One would imagine these will also help when not feeling good but can be more difficult to achieve at that point.

Here are some ways people have found to stay mentally well.

• Talk about your feelings. Just being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone with any problems you’re going through.
• Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep and mental health are closely linked: mental ill-health can affect your sleep, and poor sleep can affect your mental well-being.
• Eat well. A balanced diet can improve your sense of well-being and your mood.
• Stay active. Physical activity is not only good for your body, but it’s also great for your mind.
• Practice mindfulness, a way to be fully engaged and present in the moment.
• Keep in touch. Supportive friends can help you deal with the stresses of life, make you feel cared for and offer a different view from whatever’s going on in your head.
• Care for others, whether that’s working on relationships with family, letting go of old grudges or volunteering.

If you are affected by poor mental health, stress, anxiety or are overwhelmed, Mental Health Foundation have a good list of UK resources here.

For those of you in Ireland, there is also a comprehensive list of resources on the HSE website here.