Research highlights the state of the UK's mental health
The latest Map of Wellbeing published by the Global Mind Project shows that the UK has the highest proportion of people with low mental wellbeing or mental distress. Alongside the UK at the bottom of the chart are Brazil, South Africa and Uzbekistan.
It’s been clear that the state of mental wellbeing in the UK has been poor over the past few years, but to be measured at the bottom globally, really emphasises the situation and puts it into perspective so that we must do something about it.
More than just a one-person problem...
Mental health is very important as it can have such a huge impact on someone’s life, the economy, and state of society overall - it’s more than just a one-person problem. First and foremost, the wellbeing of people and employees is a huge priority; nobody should suffer with poor mental health. It also has an impact on loved ones, friendships and social lives, workforces, culture, the economy, and an already tightly resourced NHS.
How employers can help:
Whilst forms of self-help can benefit people, depending on the severity of someone’s mental health, it’s more than likely that more support needs to be in place. As the NHS waitlists are at an all-time high, there’s a huge need for support in areas of life, like the workplace.
Work can be a large contributing factor towards poor mental health and states of stress, anxiety, and burnout. Whether it’s due to workloads, a culture of stigma, or lack of flexibility, it’s been clear for many years that work can have a negative impact on someone’s mental health in some way. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 14.7% of people experience mental health problems in the workplace and MHFA England found that 55% of employees are reporting increased pressure.
Having wellbeing and mental health support in the workplace will help prevent people’s mental health from declining, as well as supporting those who are in need of some help. This then improves absences and presenteeism, as well as increasing an organisation’s profitability and return on investment (ROI). Everyone benefits from mental health and wellbeing support, and this shows how crucial it is for people, businesses, and societies to thrive.
Find out how UKIM Occupational Health and Wellbeing can support your organisation here.
