Welcome to your HRD Connect daily update!

World Mental Health Day 2018

Today, 10th October marks World Mental Health Day 2018. Mental health should be prioritised in all people agendas but perhaps some of the articles and stories we share today will help emphasise the real importance of a strong knowledge and understanding around mental health within your organisation. Be conscious that people are fighting battles that you cannot always see, and it’s always better to be patient and kind with others than to assume the worst.

The mental health charity Mind has reported that more than one in five (21%) agreed that they had called in sick to avoid work when asked how workplace stress had affected them, an additional 14% said that they had resigned and 42% had considered resigning when asked how workplace stress had affected them, these numbers are alarmingly high. Wellbeing and mental health needs to start being prioritised, Mind also reported that 56% of employers said they would like to do more to improve staff wellbeing but don’t feel they have the right training or guidance. So, how can we change this?

Be sure to join in the conversation on twitter using the hashtag #WorldMentalHealthDay on @HRDCommunity.

Waking up from 40 years of depression and anxiety

To mark national World Mental Health Day we spoke with Brian Heyworth, Global Head of Client Strategy at HSBC. He told us his in-depth personal story about having a psychological breakdown, keeping professionalism in mind and never recovering but learning to crisis manage himself from the depths of despair into a happy and fulfilled, albeit work-obsessed life.

Brian Heyworth was one of HRD Connect’s key leaders involved in our ‘Mental Health Role Models’ campaign running throughout National Mental Health Week which took place earlier this year. In his position of leadership, Heyworth decided to speak publicly about his personal mental health and by doing so he may have empowered others within the organisation to feel more secure about living with a mental health issue. When culture is role modelled from the top down it has the power to permeate change and perceptions throughout companies.

What Mind are doing to create a mentally healthy workplace

The topic of mental health is an extremely important aspect of work, we spoke with Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind about what they are doing to constantly create a mentally healthy workspace, as well as addressing the startling statistics including the 300,000 people a year with a long-term mental health problem that lose their job in the UK.

Six ways to help employees return to work after mental ill health

We are all faced with obstacles at work and sometimes just coming back after a holiday can feel challenging. However, when an employee is returning to work after a mental health issue, the experience can be even more daunting.

Is your team member struggling with their mental health?

Mental health is one of the fastest growing reasons for absence in the UK, having increased by 71.9% since 2011, which has cost the UK economy £18bn in lost productivity, according to analysis from Centre of Economic and Business Research 2017. However, the negative impact on the sufferer is hard to quantify in terms of cost or pounds. Mental health problems can eat away at happiness, and have life changing impacts on people. So what can we do at work to help?

Improving mental health in the workplace

Today is World Mental Day – an event dedicated to global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma over mental ill-health regardless of context. Public initiatives like this play an important role in encouraging people to properly understand the issues and symptoms surrounding mental health and how they can be effectively addressed. The timing of this event couldn’t be more important, particularly here in the UK where mental health in the workplace is an issue in urgent need of more attention.

Best wishes,

Emily Sexton-Brown,
Editor, HRD Connect