With mental health just as important now as it has ever been, we wanted to look at the benefits of employers having a healthy workforce that means a more productive workforce. All of the following information has been taken from the Workplace section on Mind's website.
Mental health problems at work are common with at least one in six workers experiencing common mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.
Every employer depends on having healthy and productive employees – valued and supported staff are far more likely to deliver the best outcomes for your business.
If you want to attract and retain committed employees, prioritising the mental health of your staff needs to be core business in your organisation.
You might not be talking about it, because mental health is still a taboo subject. And many people feel scared and confused about confronting the issue at work. But there are small, simple steps you can take to look after yourself and make your workplace mentally healthier.
Mind carried out research and it confirms that a culture of fear and silence around mental health is costly to employers:
- More than one in five (21 per cent) agreed that they had called in sick to avoid work when asked how workplace stress had affected them.
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14 per cent agreed that they had resigned and 42 per cent had considered resigning when asked how workplace stress had affected them.
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30 per cent of staff disagreed with the statement ‘I would feel able to talk openly with my line manager if I was feeling stressed’.
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56 per cent of employers said they would like to do more to improve staff wellbeing but don't feel they have the right training or guidance
Regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups.
Exercise is essential for slowing age-related cognitive decline and for promoting well-being.
But it doesn’t need to be particularly intense for you to feel good - slower-paced activities, such as walking, can have the benefit of encouraging social interactions as well providing some level of exercise.
One of their top tips is to sign up to a challenge and be part of a team and this is just where Miles For Mind comes in to play.
To coincide with Mental Health Awareness week in May, Miles For Mind is a virtual run that encourages entrants to be as active as they can.
With 7 distances to choose from, starting at 25 miles and going up to 250 miles, you have 31 days to cover the total distance through as many runs, jogs or walks as you like. At the end of your challenge, you simply drop us an email to say you've completed it and we'll get your Miles For Mind medal out in the post to you!
As well as the physical aspect to the month, encouragement and support is offered in abundance over on social media as fellow participants spur each other on.
As well as daily updates, runners also share their experience of how running has helped them overcome their own mental health challenges through a series of blogs that we host on our site. From day to day mental challenges, to helping them overcome PTSD, each story is personal to the writer, yet inspiring to others that might find themselves in a similar position.
To read those blogs submitted last year, head to our Miles For Mind Blogs section. We'll be looking to host even more this year, so watch this space!
To find out more about Miles For Mind, then please head to our Miles For Mind page where there is more information
Mind have a great, free, resource for you to help take care of mental health within your business and it can be found here.
Team runr.
