To Speak or not to speak!

To speak or not to speak!

Being someone who experiences periods of anxiety, It's hard to express how I feel about this years Mental Health Awareness Week.

With anxiety as the theme; with a focus on encouraging businesses to have wider conversations, leaders to be more open and a focus on sharing tips for coping, it is incredibly exciting.

I have worked in mental health for over 20 years, and the changes in that time have been slow but steady.

I have always been very open in discussing my mental health, but this has varied according to the context, and sometimes I’ve only felt comfortable doing this when I’m feeling much stronger again. I’ve always shared my experiences in training and with friends and family. It was still much easier last month to speak professionally about being off with labyrinthitis and missing out the fact I was also struggling with anxiety.

There have always been mixed views about whether it’s been appropriate for professionals to talk about their own mental health, particularly on LinkedIn and other professional platforms. But this week I feel that’s shifted, and I feel free to be open on here.

Everyone’s experience of anxiety is unique, but I want to share some of the tips that really help me. This week at Promote Mental Health we are sharing coping strategies and suggested actions for businesses.

Tips for coping with anxiety
-Acceptance that you are struggling and it’s ok not to be ok
-Communicate how you feel - reach out and feel less alone
-Learn how to breathe
-Feel your feelings - anxiety it awful, but it can’t hurt you
-Move, walk, get outside in the light and in nature
-Stay hydrated an eat small regular meals to balance blood sugar
levels
-Sleep - get into a good routine. Don't worry if you need to
stay in bed
-Hope - It will pass, and you will feel better again
-Build in self-care and take time out is fundamental not a luxury

What can businesses do?
-Talk more openly with friends and family. This can really help
you manage it and not have to hide how you are feeling
-Speak to others in the organisation and be open in the
workplace
-Upskill, empower and embed mental health awareness training
across your organisation (see Promote Mental Health for more
details on what we offer)
-Encourage senior managers and CEO's to model healthy
behaviours such as work-life balance and speaking openly about
their own wellbeing. This can be incredibly powerful and help
change the culture of the workplace.

For more information on how Promote Mental Health can help you in your workplace wellbeing journey contact us today.

Thank you @MarkRowland Rob Stephenson⁷ 🐙 Paul McGregor Harry Bliss and all those others who’ve taken a lead on this, way before it became easier to do so.

Good luck to those at the beginning of their journey on speaking more openly. We are on this journey together and you are not alone.

#mentalhealth #mhaw2023 #PromoteMentalHealth