Mental illness is certainly not a new phenomenon. What is new is the conversation surrounding it. Mental health affects our psychological, social and emotional wellbeing. Basically, everything that cannot be seen by the naked eye unless it is known what to look for. 

 

The mental health movement has certainly seen an increase in businesses taking notice and implementing mental health measures. But statistics show that employers are still more willing to cram their workplaces full of first-aid boxes and teach CPR than they are to focus on mental health. 

 

This is largely down to the following three reasons: 

 

 

Raising awareness is great – mental health is more documented now than ever before. But this can only go so far to breaking down the barriers surrounding mental health, much in the same way that creating noise around plastic in the ocean can only go so far to stopping the issue. 

 

The letter, which had backing from big names like Alistair Campbell and Len McCluskey, argued that cost should not be a consideration because spending money on improving workplace mental health is an investment. 

 

‘Each year, workplace mental health issues cost the UK economy almost £35 billion, with 15.4 million working days lost to work-related stress, depression or anxiety. But the cost is not just financial’ they said. 

 

‘Left untreated mental ill health impacts a person’s relationships with friends and family and ultimately their quality of life.’ 

 

 

 

 

The symptoms of seasonal affective disorder are the same as normal depression. Unlike all-year-round depression, however, SAD is triggered by a lack of exposure to sunlight (or so it’s thought). This cycle of depression begins in autumn or winter and starts to improve in spring as the nights draw out. 

SAD sufferers will generally experience any of the following: 

 

 

Since Jodie Whittaker’s entrance onto the scene, eagle-eyed Whovians have been in awe of her portrayal as the energetic life force that is the thirteenth Doctor.  

 

The new take on the age-old series has opened up entirely new conversations that go beyond the programme itself. In regenerations gone by, Doctor Who has certainly become less subtle with the social allegory. 

 

It got us to thinking. What has the long-standing BBC show taught us, and its millions of viewers, about mental health? 

 

Why Business Owners are calling for Mental Health Training; 

 

It is important to recognize that businesses do not purposefully create a poor environment which generates high levels of stress, anxiety and mental health issues. However, the statistics speak for themselves and businesses now have to take action. 

 

Here Are 5 Reasons Why Conflict in The Workplace is Holding Your Business Back 

Misdirected Focus 

 

Naturally, if there is to much time and energy dealing with conflict; then there are more important objectives which will be overlooked by default. This is, of course, the other side of the penny because if conflict problems are not resolved then conflict is most certainly your greatest problem. Not until effective communication is established will you be able to direct your focus to where it should be. 

 

As business owners, senior members of staff and managers, you have the direct opportunity to turn your business environment into a nourishing source of accomplishment through uplifting the way your employees feel about their role and attributes. This is by far the greatest form of Mental Health Training that works through prevention and of which will also benefit both their work experience and the success of your company. 

It's no secret that a great sense of well-being is the secret to happiness but unfortunately there is an ignored theme that happiness only belongs in our personal life. With an average of 40 hours being dedicated to our working week (8 hours a day) why should the focus on well-being be limited to a person's life outside of his or her career? It is clear that with such a massive chunk of our life being involved with our working responsibilities, employers should consider the company benefits in creating room for staff well-being. 

There is little mystery in why we start businesses, we aim to succeed in a financial gain and aim to carry out a professional life that we enjoy and are passionate about. Either way, the faculty of a business is to be “goal driven” but sometimes we can forget what drives our businesses or rather, who drives the business. In such a case we may unknowingly treat our staff like functioning parts to a bigger machine rather than the human beings of which we all are, and members of a team that we appreciate. 

As our understanding has evolved around Mental Health issues, so too has the development of therapies. Quite impressively, professionals have made serious progress in combating Mental Health. From the creation of a vast variation of therapeutic strategies, to raising awareness across the whole of the UK, no stone has been left unturned. But perhaps the oldest trick in the book - is a self help book and there are many reasons why you should turn to them for guidance.