Reimagining Mental Health in the Workplace.

Rosalyn Palmer — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 12:56:13 +0000

It is self evident that prioritising the well-being of employees is more important than ever. Beyond physical health, mental well-being has emerged as a crucial element in creating thriving, productive workplaces. Here’s why focusing on mental health can make a significant difference to your company, employees and bottom line

🔍 The Current Mental Health Landscape:

66% of 18 to 24-year-olds report suffering from severe forms of stress around the world. In the UK it is reported that it’s 60% among the same age group [ Mental Health Foundation].

Here are some sobering recent U.S. statistics.

While the percentage of U.S. adults receiving mental health treatment increased from 19.2% in 2019 to 21.6% in 2021, 42% of U.S. adults with a diagnosable condition reported in 2023 that they could not afford to access the treatment they needed and 93.5% of adults with a substance abuse disorder did not receive treatment in the past year (2022).

Working women between 35-44 who are juggling work and motherhood are 50% more likely to suffer stress than men of the same age. [Priory Group].

Sadly, men are much less likely to talk about feelings of stress and even less likely to report work-related stress to a manager (Nick Boettcher et al.)

Having previously spent over 20 years in top London PR and Marcomms agencies, I’ve felt the relentless pressure firsthand. Sleepless nights and reliance on sleeping aids were my norm. My personal story underscores a universal truth: mental health struggles can happen to anyone, anywhere. It’s a stark reminder of why mental health should be a priority.

Practical Steps for Employers:

Normalise Conversations: Encourage open discussions about mental health. Creating a safe space for these conversations can foster a supportive workplace culture.

Prioritise Workplace Support: Implement comprehensive mental health initiatives. Flexible work arrangements, access to counseling, and mental health days can make a significant difference.

Extend Compassion Beyond the Office: Recognise that employees’ struggles don’t end when they leave work. Show empathy and support that reaches into their personal lives.

Promote Holistic Well-Being: Understand the link between mental and physical health. Encourage self-care and provide resources for professional help when needed.

If you’re a leader, it’s time to reflect: Are your employees more than just resources? Do they feel valued and supported? The journey towards a mentally healthy workplace starts with intentional actions and a genuine commitment to well-being.

Click here to book you discovery call with Rosalyn

#MentalHealthMatters #EmployeeWellness #WorkplaceWellbeing #LeadershipInAction #ThrivingWorkforce #HolisticWellBeing #SupportYourTeam #WellnessAtWork

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Take childhood inspiration and follow all your dreams

Rosalyn Palmer — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 15:14:50 +0000

In the words of the Spice Girls breakthrough song ‘Wannabe’, if you ‘Tell me what you want, what you really really want’ then ‘I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want’ in return.

Sadly, in my experience, people mistake what they want for what they really need. Also, when asked ‘What do you want?’ many of my clients will send a long list of what they DON’T want. For example, “I don’t want to feel sad/lonely/self-loathing/lost etc. anymore.”

Do you really know what you need? If you run a business, do you really know your customers and understand what they need?

Henry Ford famously said that if you would have asked people what they wanted (prior to the invention of the motor car) they would have said: ‘A faster horse’.

Success in business really boils down to giving customers what they need. However, the mistake most businesses make is getting caught up in working out how to give customers what they want. Why?

Because it presupposes that they know or can imagine it as with a motor car vs a faster horse.

What I also hear regularly from my coaching and therapy clients is: “I want to feel (happy/loving/excited/real/confident/fulfilled…) again but I just don’t know how.”

Helping them requires that I focus on their needs and get out of the way. It is not about what I happen to think they should or shouldn’t want.

I was reminded of this last week. We have a large hen house and then some turkeys and a pair of cockerels who live in a stable and then roam the paddock. I always think that the latter group have a much better life. They are freer.

So, when one of the turkey-group cockerels died last week (just of old age) we ‘liberated’ one of the ‘captive’ cockerels from the hen run. For two days he wandered back to the hen run trying to find a way back in. Just when I decided I’d grab him and put him back with his old gang he disappeared. Probably dinner for Mr Fox I thought gloomily.

So much for my plan for his better life. He didn’t want it at all. He wanted his flock. He needed to feel safe and secure and in the only environment he has ever known. Lesson learned.

The next time you think about what you want, try shifting your thoughts to what you need now. For example, if you want to feel good about yourself then what do you need to do? Join the gym or join a Park Run for example. If you want to relax then what does your body need? A long bath and an early night perhaps? You get the idea.

Try it and by meeting your needs you will be able to know better what you want for better times ahead.

(P.S happy ending – the cockerel is now back in the hen house with his mates thanks to a neighbour who spotted him in the field and a large fishing net!).

If you’d like to find out more then book a discovery call – https://rosalynpalmer.com/contact/

The post Take childhood inspiration and follow all your dreams appeared first on Rosalyn Palmer Transformation Expert.

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Reimagining Mental Health in the Workplace.

Take childhood inspiration and follow all your dreams