World Mental Health Day 2024

October 10^th 2024 is World Mental Health Day and this year’s theme is ‘It is Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace’.

In January, Mental Health UK produced their Burnout Report which noted that “with 20% of UK employees taking leave due to stress last year, it’s clear workplace mental health must be a priority”. At AAL we are committed to highlighting the importance of supporting employee mental health through our People, Culture and Wellbeing Charter and Quality Mark, so we are determined to advocate this message to our partners, colleagues and future collaborators.

But what is burnout and how can we spot it?

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion. In the workplace it could be caused by prolonged stress or frustration, and the effects can be significant. On a personal level you may feel demotivated, and irritable, with small everyday work tasks becoming hard to achieve. You may feel detached from your job and find yourself becoming cynical about your role or the organisation you work for. You may find yourself feeling fatigued, or suffering from health problems such as insomnia, depression or anxiety.

From an organisational perspective there may be signs of lower productivity than usual, a lack of creativity and a general sense of detachment where there was previous enthusiasm. Whilst these aren’t always linked to burnout, it is important for employers to recognise the signs and actively seek to support and address them.

What can we do to help?

Earlier this year AAL’s Managing Director, Marcia Fernandes, was invited to speak at the Manchester Metropolitan University on Workplace Wellbeing. Together the students discussed a number of practical ways that mental health could be supported in the workplace, from the development of policies and procedures, and supporting the “turning off” of devices, to wellbeing check-ins and social events. You can read more about the discussions here.

It’s important to be clear that preventing burnout is not just about improving job satisfaction. We must all strive to create healthier and more sustainable workplace cultures. This includes both employers and employees prioritising mental health, ensuring there are clear boundaries between work and personal life, ensuring everyone takes breaks and encouraging the practising of self-care. Education is imperative, ensuring that managers at all levels understand how they can play a role in supporting wellbeing in the workplace.

“we must unite in educating ourselves and one another to recognise the signs of poor mental health and provide mutual support so that we can create healthier, more resilient workplaces where mental wellbeing is a priority for all” (Mental Health UK, 2024).

Further information on World Mental Health Day and resources for your workplace can be found here.

If you are interested in finding out more about Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing, consider joining AAL’s People, Culture and Wellbeing Charter which not only demonstrates your organisational commitment but provides access to CPD for your employees to learn more about creating healthy, sustainable workplaces. Contact us for more information or to book an informal chat.

For further support for Mental Health please visit: Information and support – Mental Health UK (mentalhealth-uk.org)

Sarah Greenway, Quality & Sustainability Director