Today (Thursday 10 October 2024) is World Mental Health Day and the theme set this year by the Mental Health Foundation is ‘mental health at work’.
Margaret Mullane MP for Dagenham and Rainham remarked: “World Mental Health Day is an important opportunity to raise awareness of mental wellbeing. It also presents us with a chance to work together to break down the stigmatisation that is still attached to mental ill health by getting people talking.
“I know well just how stressful workplaces can be, and with the added pressures many people now face such as the cost-of-living crisis, job insecurity and rising rents, I think the focus on ‘mental health at work’ is an important one.
“It is still early into the new government, but I have faith that with the introduction of the Employment Rights Bill, the Renter’s Rights Bill, and a renewed focus on delivering a National Care Service with improved mental health provisions, people in areas like Dagenham and Rainham will have more support to tackle the trials of daily life in the workplace.”
The Labour Government also have plans to introduce mental wellbeing hubs, and have started the work of creating a parity of esteem between mental and physical health by extending the existing 111 phone service to function as a mental health crisis line.
Research from the Mental Health Foundation highlights that around 15% of workers have an existing mental health condition, and that in 2022/23 approximately 875,000 workers in Britain suffered from work related stress, depression and anxiety. The ONS reported that in 2022 mental ill health was the 5th most common reason for sickness absence in the workplace.
The Mental Health Foundation states that: “Work can have a huge impact on our mental health. It can be good for our mental health, giving us a sense of purpose, boosting our self-worth, and providing opportunities to connect with others. But it can also be a source of stress and anxiety and contribute to developing or worsening mental health problems. Many people spend a lot of their time working. That’s why it’s so important that our workplace supports our mental health, helping us get the mental health benefits of work while reducing the negative impact.”
If you, a friend, colleague, or relative are experiencing mental ill health there are some fantastic charities who offer support.
The Mental Health Foundation: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
CALM: https://www.thecalmzone.net/ - 0800 58 58 58
Havering, Barking and Dagenham Mind: https://www.haveringmind.org.uk/ - 01708 457040
The Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/ - 116 123
Talking Therapies: https://www.talkingtherapies.nelft.nhs.uk/ - 0300 300 1554
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