Improving Mental Health in Workspaces

“One-third of an average person’s life is spent at work” [1] . While this statistic may sound discouraging, or even, surprising to some, it’s certainly a statistic which needs more attention.

Everyone has a different perception of how they view their job role; some see it as their passion, some as purely a means to live, some as the main purpose of their lives, some as simply time pass, and so on. While this differs from individual to individual, one thing we can all agree on is that we spend a hell of a lot of time working.

So, how important is it to ensure you have a healthy working environment if you’re spending so much of your life there? Extremely important. In light of Mental Health Awareness Week last week, here at Red Media, we put together a list of tips and tricks that employers and employees can use to ensure a healthier, happier, and calmer working environment.

1. Take Regular Breaks

· While we understand that some job roles in this industry are very fast-paced and hectic; we believe that it is vital to take some time out for yourself in between each working day. We make conscious efforts to spend our lunch breaks in different ways; whether that be with our colleagues, catching some sunshine, eating our food outside, spending some time alone, or going for a walk (which is a plus point in itself for your mental health!)

2. Honesty & Communication

· Statistics show that “for almost 70 per cent of people, their manager has more impact on their mental health than their therapist or their doctor [2]”. While everyone may not have this privilege, at Red, we constantly encourage honest and open communication (with confidentiality), with our management at all times. If you’re not able to speak to your manager for whatever reason, confide in a colleague or HR. Communicate your concerns, whether they be work-related or not. We also constantly place importance on checking in on each other. You never know what your colleague is going through, and a simple “how are you feeling today?” can go a long way.

3. Allow for a Little Fun

· In a working environment, work will always take first priority. However, we are big advocates of introducing a little fun into work as often as we can. Whether that be in little ways, by building a snack draw together and taking part in external projects; or in bigger ways by going on annual team away days, monthly team lunches and team building exercises. Not only does this bring the team closer together, but it also allows for a little time away from work to rejuvenate.

4. Change of Scenery

· Working in the same room, every day, 5 days a week, can be extremely exhausting. If your company allows for hybrid working, try to spend your WFH days in different places; a friend/family’s house, an outdoor café, or even the park if the sun is shining! Even if the majority of your days are spent in the office, you can still include a little change of scenery. We try to mix things up by hot desk-ing together, having our meetings at a nearby Starbucks, or allowing for alone time in meeting rooms.

5. Improving Anxiety

· This year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week was anxiety. Research conducted in the UK has shown that “an estimated 822,000 workers are affected by work-related stress, depression or anxiety every year [3]”. This means that a large number of people within your workplace are probably suffering from anxiety right now. There are often simple and small ways in which we can ease people’s anxiety rates within workplaces. At Red, we often use essential oils around the office which are known to calm anxiety. Others ways could be by allowing for sunshine into the office, allowing for quiet rooms, or possibly even instilling break-out rooms or spaces.

Understandably, mental health is not an easy topic to navigate, nor to discuss with your colleagues. But open, and honest conversation is a start to achieving a bigger goal; which is eventual improvement in the declining mental health statistics. If you’re not gaining the support you need, whether that be within work or outside of work, there are always other avenues you can take, and it’s not something which should be taken lightly. We’ve listed below some well-known mental health charities or resources in the UK, which are easily contactable.

Where to go for help:

Mind

https://www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/using-this-tool

Samaritans

https://www.samaritans.org/donate-now/?campaign_name=W0223A_S&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyLGjBhDKARIsAFRNgW-MBeVGvPjLKCrYncnw_K4ICirAWUtLKNhqsdUtt1Vwr8U2lG2Xv5oaAotsEALw_wcB

Together for Mental Wellbeing