Making mental health is a global priority. Services for mental health cannot cope with the explosion of demand over the past two years. 1.6 million people are on waiting lists, 8 million people are in need of help but can’t even get onto these lists. Even children are showing up in A & E in despair.

During the first year of the pandemic 2019, there was an estimated 25% rise in anxiety and depressive disorders. This was from short-term or long-terms stress as well as issues related to mental health and unemployment. We are living in an un-certain and traumatising world. Our climate is breaking down. We are trying to stay on top of the cost of living, still weighted with grief, contagion, and isolation.

Good mental health is a key influence on employability, finding a job, and keeping that job. Unemployment can cause stress and can lead to long-term effects on physiological health. The current state of the world adding to these issues could have negative consequences on people’s mental health. Yet, loss of employment is a key risk to mental health issues and suicide attempts.

Toxic workplaces can also be an issue to the decline in mental health. Poor working conditions can be the source of excessive stress. This heightens the risk of developing a mental health condition and exaggerating existing ones. Other risks can be the nature of the work, the physical and social characteristics, opportunities in your career, bullying, and low social support. Furthermore, the stigma of mental health can lead to the discrimination which is a large social barrier to social inclusion and can prevent access to the right care. The stigma is carried is through the saying depression is a “chemical imbalance” in the brain. Ironically, this suggests you have a broken brain for life which adds to the stigma.

There are ways to reduce stress levels within the workplace such as not taking work with you home. Taking work home can add to your stress levels. Learn to say no and set realistic expectations of yourself. Do not be afraid to take a break. By addressing your mental health in a workplace can help increase productivity by 12%.

Another way to help is by Mymindpal. This is an app that allows your team to build up their mental resilience by doing different activities. As you progress through the app the algorithm responds to the answers given and adapts challenges to tailor to your needs.

In moving forward, we need to create social change that is preventive. This can by investing in younger people and community led services. Another way to help your mental help is to acknowledge the feelings and situations of others. Especially those suffering in unliveable conditions. One can’t be expected to push through all the time.

To conclude, mental health is an ongoing issue within the workplace. However, this can be overcome by positive action, awareness, and a better understanding of mental health.  This change will not happen overnight, but change will not happen without us.