The number of workdays lost through sick leave in the UK is rocketing, hitting its highest level for three decades in 2022, according to fresh data from Statista. The fifth most common reason for sickness absence in the UK is poor mental health, so the theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is pertinent: the workplace.
Increasing awareness about depression, anxiety and other conditions means more and more employers are taking mental health seriously. We asked Positive News readers how their work or workplace has supported their wellbeing. This is what they said.
An in-house therapist
“I once worked at a large pharmaceutical company which used to have a therapist stationed in the head office who anyone could talk to at any time by booking a meeting in their diary. It was very positive even though her main piece of advice was to get a cleaner!” – Anon, Cambridge, England
Wellbeing grants
“My employer gives us a £200 grant per year to spend on our wellbeing, I use mine towards Pilates classes and massages!” – Sara, England
Communication
“My workplace has really opened communication, everyone’s voice is heard. We’ve created a channel within Slack [an online messaging service] where people can share resources that help them when they are struggling with their mental health, as we as promoting activities going on in the area that people can participate in. It may seem small but just knowing your work is an empathetic environment where you can voice your struggles, be heard, and supported makes the idea of going to work less overwhelming on difficult days” – Roisin, Manchester, England
Encouraging time off
“My supervisor will regularly check how much time in lieu we have accumulated and when we last took a day off. Recently, I had quite a few hours accumulated, and she brought it up in a supervision session. She didn’t let me get away with giving her reasons as to why I couldn’t take a day off and she reinforced that taking time off is part of my job as a trauma therapist. Experiencing compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma or burnout isn’t going to help my clients but demonstrating selfcare might!” – Laura, Chicago, US
Job fulfilment
“I’m a Secondary DT [design technology] teacher, so I get to support enthusiasm and creativity every day. This is a huge component for me of good mental health. I give big energy to the pupils and see it repaid tenfold, right in front of my eyes. The staff around me are just as crucial because in teaching you’ll never make it out alive (so to say) on your own! Never take yourself too seriously, hang your ego up at the door and it has to be one of the greatest jobs going” – Adam, Surrey, England
My employer gives us a £200 grant per year to spend on our wellbeing. I use mine towards Pilates classes and massages
Aligned values
“I’ve recently made a big career change into an area of work that I’m both passionate about and have lived experiences with. Working at the intersection of climate change and mental health services for a nonprofit has benefitted my own mental health and wellbeing in so many ways, and is such a refreshing culture to be a part of. Increased trust, freedom, flexibility, compassion, respect, learning and development opportunities, volunteering days, team catch-ups and away days are some of the ways in which my work has supported positive changes in my mental health. This in turn allows me to work to the best of my ability for the people we serve within our services, and empower colleagues to make the changes needed for the sake of our planet” – Daniel, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
Reduced hours
“My employer has been excellent from the start with my line manager having a keen focus and heart for mental health issues and being a mental health first aider himself. In wanting to balance my interests and reduce loss of interest over a working week, my line manager helped me reduce my working hours to three days a week allowing me to build up a portfolio career doing similar work (data science) and dissimilar work (organist). It has also allowed me to focus on other hobbies such as baking and cabinetmaking, both giving me solid senses of achievement, which in turn helps me remain motivated at my main workplace. An all-round win” – Nicholas, Devon, England
Just knowing your work is an empathetic environment makes the idea of going to work less overwhelming on difficult days
Emotional and financial support
“My workplace, Brighter Places [a housing association in Bristol, England], is a fantastic supporter of mental wellbeing in the workplace. They offer a whole range of benefits and support measures including flexible working, employee assistance programmes, counselling provisions, an annual benefit to be used for physical and mental health, interest-free loans for financial support, social activities, mental health first-aiders, lunchtime park walks, and a whole range of generally supportive employment and management practices” – Helen, Bristol, England
Kindness
“[My workplace] has given me flexibility when I had a family illness, they made sure I was never put on the spot or humiliated in front of others, they regularly checked in with me, they had fair rules, they listened and discussed my ideas, they made space for healthy banter and lightheartedness, they listened to my needs for rest or a slower pace when I needed it, they’ve always been kind to me. They believed I could do the job and didn’t make comparisons between colleagues” – Laura, Scotland
Main image: Emir Memedovski