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May 2013 - Issue 106 - www.clareevans.co.uk
Hello ,
Last month I took part in the Live Below the Line challenge - for those of you following me on my Blog or on Twitter, I posted updates to say how I was getting on.
The challenge involved feeding yourself for just £1 per day for 5 days. You can read about it on my blog and it's not too late to support the cause and contribute to reducing poverty in other parts of the world.
Stay connected through my blog, on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook.
Clare
P.S. Feel free to pass this article on to your friends and colleagues. Thank you.
 
Mental Health in the workplace
Mental health affects many employees in the workplace but are often hidden, left untreated or undiagnosed. There is still a stigma and mis-understanding attached to this area of health.
Problems can vary from stress; mild to severe depression; post-natal depression; anxiety - leading to panic attacks and phobias; bi-polar/manic depression; personality disorders; drug or alcohol abuse.
Directors, Managers and leaders may not know how to deal with mental health issues. Untreated employees health, career and productivity suffers. If managed and treated, their symptoms reduce and their productivity and job performance improves.
While many employees may go off long-term sick as a result of their mental health, the loss of productivity has an impact on the business and their colleagues.
Disorders, symptoms and impact
Employees with depression and anxiety disorders will be off work more frequently and are less productive when at work - an estimated 27 lost work days* (absence and lost productivity). Affects about 6% of employees a year.
They may be nervous, irritable, unproductive, tired, have poor judgement and decision making.
Bipolar - people switch between elevated and depressed moods. Productivity and performance is likely to suffer during both stages but more so in the depressive phase. Estimated 63 lost work days. Affects about 1% a year.
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) affects adults as well as children. Affects 3.5% of employees. Employees may seem disorganised, miss deadlines, unable to manage their workload. Days lost to sickness and productivity are around 22 days.
Depression and anxiety at work are the most costly health conditions. Investment in mental health pays off - not only for the employee but for the organisation as a whole in better health and wellbeing, improved productivity and reduced costs.
Workplace stress and mental health
Work related stress is increasing. More and more demands are being made on employees and the threat of redundancy and job loss means many people are working longer hours.
Companies can manage and prevent stress by improving the conditions in the workplace for their employees and learning to recognise the signs. Employees can also manage their own mental health by recognising and dealing with the early signs.
Stress causes illness, reduces productivity, increases sickness and staff turnover and can trigger or worsen mental health problems. The symptoms of stress and mental health problems can be similar.
Treatment varies from self-help, talking therapies and mindfulness for milder symptoms to medication and psychiatric treatments.
There's a lot you can do to look after your own mental health. Recognise the symptoms before they get worse. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for you and your particular situation.
If you can or feel comfortable doing so - talk to your manager, HR or Occupational Health department about your situation.
Read my recent blog on Activity and exercise for better mental health.
Don't suffer in silence and don't feel you're alone.
Get in touch for a chat to find out how to improve your health and wellbeing.
Until next month.
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| Resources
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Focus Booster - a useful timing and countdown app to keep you focused, on track and less distracted.
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Clare Evans
Personal and Business Coach
T: +44 (0)1273 588297
M: +44 07887 954512
E: [email protected]
W: www.clareevans.co.uk
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