7 minute read
Health & Wellbeing
DEPRESSION levels double during COVID pandemic
Feeling depressed? Well, don’t worry – you’re not alone. The number of adults in the UK with depression has doubled during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report.
Official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that almost one in five adults (19.2%) were likely to be experiencing some form of depression in June this year – almost double the 9.7% in the nine months from July 2019 to March 2020.
One in eight adults (12.9%) developed moderate to severe depressive symptoms during the pandemic, while a further 6.2% of the population continued to experience this level of depressive symptoms. Only around one in 25 adults (3.5%) saw an improvement over this period. Of those experiencing some form of depression, 84.9% said feeling stressed or anxious was most strongly compromising their wellbeing. The results have raised concerns that more people will experience mental ill-health as emergency support measures introduced by the government, including the furlough scheme and enhanced statutory sick pay, are wound down. Tim Vizard, principal research officer at the ONS, said: “The research provides an insight into the mental health of adults during the coronavirus pandemic. Revisiting this same group of adults before and during the pandemic provides a unique insight into how their symptoms of depression have changed over time. “Almost one in five adults were experiencing some form of depression during the pandemic, almost doubling from around one in 10 before the pandemic. Adults who were young, female, unable to afford an unexpected expense or disabled were the most likely to experience some form of depression during the pandemic.” The research has heaped more pressure on employers to do more to protect the mental health and well-being of their workforce. It comes after a separate study by People Management and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) showed that two thirds (67%) of employers found that managing employees’ fear and anxiety was their biggest challenge during the pandemic. Meanwhile, in the same survey, 70% of employers highlighted the challenge of ensuring staff were staying well both physically and mentally while working remotely. Research from Canada Life showed that almost half (46%) of British workers carrying out their jobs remotely during lockdown said they felt more pressure to be “present” for their employer and colleagues, with more than a third (35%) reporting they had continued to work despite feeling unwell. Of those who had worked through illness, 40% said this was because they didn’t feel they were sick enough to warrant a day off. However, more than a quarter (26%) also reported workload as a reason for not taking a day off, and 16% cited fear of redundancy. These surveys suggest that we all need to take better care of our mental health. For those who are suffering from depression and anxiety, support is available from a variety of organisations. The NHS website lists some of these organisations at
www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxietydepression/mental-health-helplines/.
The surveys also indicate that employers should do more to protect the wellbeing of their workforce. Employers can find out more information about this at
www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/ how-support-mental-health-work
CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAMME
Many businesses have been impacted by Covid-19 and as a result making redundancies may be unavoidable. The Wandsworth Council Work Match service and South Thames College have partnered to launch the Wandsworth Career Transition Programme, designed for micro, small and medium sized businesses in Wandsworth. The Career Transition Programme is free to access and aims to ensure those leaving your business are in the strongest possible position with the right skills, mindset and confidence to apply for a new role when suitable. We believe that the Career Transition Programme reinforces a positive view of your business by your sta and the local community.
Services on oer:
● Social media presence and personal brand ● Career coaching and job brokerage ● Access to sector led training ● An individual, tailored learning plan ● Support with CV development
If you would like to talk to our team about the Career Transition Programme, please contact us at
careertransitionprogramme@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk
CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAMME
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Cosmos boosts business efficiency
When James Dalton-Golding launched his new venture in 2017, he knew there was a gap in the market for the type of service he wanted to provide.
James Dalton-Golding, Cosmos Performance
“Lots of small businesses wanted to adopt change to become more efficient but they don’t always know how to go about it,” he says. “We use a range of tools and techniques to identify and eliminate unnecessary waste within their business, helping them to create more efficient processes and procedures. This approach has many benefits, including increased operational efficiency, reduced costs and higher productivity.
“All of these benefits are crucial in the current climate, with the country about to enter the deepest recession in living memory. Companies need to do everything they can to keep ahead of the competition – and this can be assisted by making sure they’re as lean and efficient as possible.” James’ company, Cosmos Performance, has a team of highly skilled consultants who work with a range of organisations including manufacturers, construction firms, facilities management specialists and health organisations. On average, Cosmos Performance clients see a return on their investment of up to ten to one – evidence that more firms should consider the benefits of lean and process improvement. Beneficiaries of Cosmos’ services include the NHS, FM Conway, Interserve and many small-to-medium enterprises. As economic fortunes have changed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cosmos Performance has adapted its service provision to suit. James says: “As part of our engagement with clients, we’re now to assist them to become Covid secure, without impacting the working day. This allows us to help businesses and organisations adjust to the current situation and help make their workplaces safer for staff,clients and visitors. Sometimes it’s the simple things that companies overlook, such as allowing more time for staff to wash their hands throughout the day or the extra time it take queuing for lunch.” James is an experienced managing director with a demonstrable track record of working in the management consulting industry. Skilled in operations management, lean management, lean construction, facilities management and team building, he’s also an expert in helping companies and organisations to manage change. He says: “People should not be afraid of change. A fresh set of eyes and approach from the outside can often see things that a company owner cannot because he or she is immersed in the business. An independent person can come in and offer a fact based
opinion by following the processes within the business. “To ensure that the approach we take is fully adopted by our clients and their employees, we take them on the journey with us. This way, implementation is not just about doing what you are told to do. It becomes a culture that everyone is bought into and wants to be part of, which makes it easier to deliver sustainable results. “Using our strengths and our capabilities, we can not only focus on the use of lean and process improvement, but take a holistic view incorporating business improvement techniques that will benefit everyone involved.”
