THE TIME HAS COME TO DO MORE Many of us are encouraged to do things to actively improve our physical health but how many of us take a similar proactive approach to improving our mental health? Sadly, mental health problems are all too common in the workplace, and it is the leading cause of sickness absence in the UK - with a staggering 70 million work days lost each year. And according to a report published by Mental Health Foundation and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), this costs the UK economy at least £118 billion annually - around 5 percent of the UK’s GDP. Clearly the cost of mental ill-health is not simply a financial issue, but calculating the cost and impact of mental health problems can be very persuasive when making the case for investment in preventing them. We have become much more aware of what mental health is and the impact it has on our lives no more so than through the global pandemic where employers really started to witness the impact physical distancing, social isolation, and lockdown was having on individuals. But being more aware and talking about mental health is just the start. We have to become a nation 50
that takes a much more proactive approach towards protecting our wellbeing, and that of those around us - be it at home or in the workplace. Here are five steps to consider, and think about how you might build into your everyday life. WOKINGHAM LOCAL • JULY / AUGUST 2022
