Feeling that
t about six per cent of the
working population, the UK
you need to try
Aunemployment rate is lower than many
harder in seeking
countries in Europe. But redundancies for the last quarter
were the highest since comparable records began in 1995.
employment can
And, when it comes to jobs for under-24s, our unemployment
levels are higher than elsewhere in the EU. It’s not easy to stay healthy
be as stressful
when you’re unemployed. The loss of confidence that results from losing your job
as anything the
and the sudden need not to get out of bed in the morning can be a toxic combination
when it comes to both physical and mental health. One estimate from the USA suggests that
toughest job can
each percentage point rise in unemployment leads to 6,000 deaths.
Of course, most people won’t be killed by a job loss but all of them will be affected by it. How do you keep
throw at you.
your period of unemployment as healthy as possible?
A job is about more than just money. It also gives you something to do every day. This may sound trivial until you
think of all the men who just waste away after retirement. If you have no reason to get up in the morning, you can
easily stop bothering.
Work is what gives most men their identity. While some women might define themselves in relation to their family –
I’m a mother of three – most men define themselves in relation to their work – I’m an electrician, I’m a merchant banker.
As a result, work gives men their direction – both short-term project goals and long-term ones related to promotion
and pay. Both men and women have friends at work, but for men they’re more likely to be their best friends or even their
only ones.
Unemployment may mean you need to work even harder on building friendships – a good use of your extra spare time.
If you lose your job, it is important to be aware of all this. Even if you’re a confident sort of guy, even if you’re certain
you’ll find another job soon, these losses will effect you on a certain level. Unemployment reminds you that the world in
general and the world of work in particular will carry on turning quite happily without you.
Watch out for boredom. You’ve suddenly got all this time on your hands but, if you’re unemployed, you haven’t got the
money to enjoy it. Budgeting, even if it was tight before, will get tighter.
The inevitable low that comes from being told that you’re not wanted any more can hang on. You can start thinking that
you’re a failure and your self-esteem in all areas of life – not just work – can take a hit. If you’re younger you may feel you’ll
never work or even leave home. If you’re older it may trigger a mid-life crisis or similar.
When your mate says: ‘I had no trouble getting a job, why can’t you?’ You’re going to want to kill him but you’re going to
feel guilty too. The feeling that you need to try harder in your job search or be a better person can be as stressful as
anything the toughest job can throw at you.
Unemployment
and your health
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