In Focus Consumer Credit Mental health at work
Mental ill-health will always be a difficult subject, but professionals need to take it seriously and take steps to help themselves
Kedge Martin Chief executive officer, Rutbusters
There is a lot of emphasis on tackling workplace mental-health problems – such as stress, anxiety and hopelessness – when they have built up to be serious and chronic. This is a positive development, but it is
much better to be proactively preventative at an early stage, rather than having to deal with mental-health issues with therapy and antidepressants once it has become a big issue. There are ‘four t’s’ to improve mental wellbeing: l Talk to someone. l Time for oneself. l Technology disconnect. l Thanks for what is good.
Talk to someone Having someone to talk to is a really important way to prevent severe problems building up. Often people worry about confiding their problems and concerns with those close to them; they do not want to burden their friends and family and there is also the stigma of being vulnerable. So, many people march on through life
with an ‘I am ok’ mask on, only for it to fall off when they collapse. And, those closest to us often have their own agenda and historical perspective or view: “I warned you she was hopeless”, “I told you not to take that job”. Lou Hotz (a famous American football
coach, author and sports commentator) once said: “Never tell your problems to anyone… 20% do not care and the other 80% are glad you have them.” Confiding in a trained coach or counsellor,
someone wholly independent, who listens without judgement, but who also challenges your perspective in a supportive way, is invaluable. There are a range of professionals to suit all budgets – and very often just one session where you can disgorge all that is
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bubbling up and causing stress, can be very beneficial, giving clarity and perspective before one buckles through overwhelm.
Time for oneself In addition to talking to someone unbiased, it is important to carve out some space for yourself – this may be just 15 minutes going for a walk ideally outside in nature, sitting quietly and reading a book. Being disciplined and also stopping from our busyness is extremely difficult but once practiced, it is remarkable restorative.
Technology detox Disconnecting from technology is critical – smartphones, computers, social media, and the ‘always on’ culture have become the tail that wags the dog; we are always responding to other people’s actions, prompts, comments, interruptions, and e-mails. We need to re-establish control over and
ownership of our own time – the only thing that we cannot replenish – once it is gone it is gone.
Often people worry about confiding their problems and concerns with those close to them; they do not want to burden their friends and family and there is also the stigma of being vulnerable
Thanks for what we have Recognising what is right with our lives is also key – gratitude for all the things we take for granted. The best way to be grateful is to reflect
upon what we would miss if we no longer had it – our health, our friends, family (even the annoying members!) and so on, and to be grateful for the many things we take for granted. Focusing on what is good in life is a
really good way to nudge negative thoughts away. CCR
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