The manifestation of mental health issues in the workplace

1. The manifestation of mental health issues in the workplace Dr Maggie Mc Gurgan

2. ‘Businesses that don’t take mental health seriously will not be successful…….the capabilities that companies require now centre more on innovation, communication & emotional intelligence than just the more straightforward requirements of strength, dexterity & intellect that characterised previous eras.’ - Dr Paul Litchfield

4. 3/10 employees will have a mental health problem of some sort in any one year

5. Outline • What is Mental Health? • Stress vs Mental Illness • Mental Health Facts • Stigma • Warning Signs • How to help • Resources

6. What is Mental Health?

7. What is Mental Health?

8. What is Mental Health? • What is HEALTH?

9. No health without mental health.

10. What is Health? • Physical Health • How our bodies are • Having a healthy body is really important • Keeping fit • Eating well • Adequate sleep • Stress management

11. What is Health? • Mental Health • How our minds are • Thoughts, feelings, emotions & behaviours • Having a healthy mind is just as important as having a healthy body • Can’t ever properly have one without the other! • The same things that keep our bodies healthy also keep our minds healthy

14. Stress vs Mental Illness • Distinction between ‘pressure’, ‘stress’ & ‘mental health problems’ • Everyone feels under pressure sometimes but not everyone suffers the adverse effects of stress or a mental health problem • One persons ‘spur to action’ is another’s nightmare & cause of ‘melt down’ • Ability to work under pressure varies according to what is happening in rest of one’s life

15. Stress vs Mental Illness • Educate staff about stress • Encourage discussion • Raise awareness • Use resources appropriate to your service

16. Mental Health Problems- The Facts: • Extremely common • 1in 4 • These kinds of illnesses therefore rank alongside cardiovascular disorders and cancer as among the nation's biggest health problems.

17. Mental Health Problems- The Facts: • Can take many forms including – severe stress, depression, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, anxieties, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, complex bereavement and dementia. • These are issues which could affect any one of us.

18. Mental Health Problems- The Facts: • Named conditions – be informed! • http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation.aspx

19. Mental Health Problems- The Facts: • People feel very uncomfortable talking about mental health • A reason for this is stigma • People with mental illness can be stereotyped and discriminated against • By ridiculing someone we create a barrier that makes us think we aren’t like that person. • We want to believe ‘that could never be me’. • For some people the impact of stigma is worse than the symptoms of their illness. • We are frightened of mental illness in a way that we are not about physical illness.

20. Mental Health Problems- The Facts: • Psychiatrists are all too aware of the issue of stigma. It affects every sphere of our work. • It makes people reluctant to admit that they are struggling with mental health difficulties and this can delay treatment and support. • We are aware of how people’s recovery can be held back by the barriers that stigma creates, often through problems encountered at work. • To reduce stigma and discrimination we need much better education. • Teaching people the facts about mental health problems and getting rid of the myths.

21. Mental Health Problems- The Facts: • ALL mental health problems can be helped by: • Support • Talking Therapies • Medications • The prognosis for the vast majority of conditions is verypositive with the right help • In most cases, even those with long term conditions can be supported to lead full & productive lives including employment.

23. Schizo, psycho, nutter, freak; Crazy, loser, loner, geek. Mental, oddball, spacer, mad; Loony, bonkers, dangerous, bad. Wacko, threat, capable of killing; Insane, scary, not the full shilling. Animal, maniac, wrong in the head; Violent, evil…better off dead.

24. Stigma? Diabetes Epilepsy Asthma……. ______________________ Depression Alcoholism Schizophrenia

25. Stigma? Diabetes Epilepsy Asthma……. Depression Alcoholism Schizophrenia

26. Warning Signs • An increase in unexplained absences or sick leave. • Poor performance. • Poor-time-keeping. • Increased use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco or caffeine. • Frequent headaches and backaches. • Withdrawal from social contact. • Poor judgement / indecision. • Constant tiredness or low energy. • Unusual displays of emotion, e.g. frequent irritability or tearfulness.

27. Warning Signs • Working slowly • Missing deadlines • Difficulty concentrating • Appearing numb or emotionless • Withdrawing from work activity • Overworking • Forgetting directives, procedures and requests • Having difficulty with work transitions or changes in routines

28. Mental Health Issues in the Workplace • Be vigilant in the same way as you would for any health issues • Don’t be afraid to ask

29. How to help Be mental health aware Good practices will be good mental health practices 3. Promote a culture of parity of esteem

30. How to help • Encourage access to: • Staff Support services • Occupational health • GP • Voluntary Support Agencies • *As appropriate

31. Promote Resilience & Recovery • Employment can be a key part of both • Work is a major part of our lives. • It is where we spend much of our time, where we may have most contact with other people, where we make our money and where we sometimes make our friends. • Having a fulfilling job is good for your mental health and general well-being.

32. How to help

33. How to help • Be aware of your own negative stereo-types & stigmatising attitudes • Seek further advice & information as needed • Stop. Think. Understand. Support.

34. Resources • http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/usefulresources/workandmentalhealth/employer.aspx • http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/usefulresources/publications/books/rcpp/1901242854.aspx • http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/moreinformation/aboutourleaflets.aspx

35. Resources • www.amh.org.uk/ • http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/furtheradvice/stressandmentalhealth.htm • http://www.health4work.nhs.uk/mental_health_in_the_work_place/question_2

36. Resources • http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/policy/physical-health-and-mental-health/ • http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/pdfs/manage-mental-health.pdf

37. ‘‘All organisations say routinely ‘People are our greatest asset’. Yet few practice what they preach, let alone truly believe it’’ • Peter Drucker