Why focusing on mental health is more important than ever

Nobody could have predicted the extent to which our lives have been disrupted over the past two years, what with Covid-19 and the current cost-of-living crisis in the UK. During these challenging times, parents have been struggling to juggle their changing work and financial situation while not being able to take their kids out of the house, and employers have been shown that they must prioritise the mental health of their workers if they want to create a sustainable and flourishing business.

Preventing burnout and focusing on mental health is now an increasingly important metric in itself. A new era of mental health standards is dawning and here are our reasons as to why:

More research

Mental health is an area that has never fully received the attention that it deserves but, in recent years, research on the topic has increased. Research shows that 90% of workers are affected by mental health issues. A growing number of teenagers are experiencing anxiety disorders, with rates of self-harm and even suicide increasing at alarming rates.

While it is normal for people of all ages to feel worried and anxious from time to time, the levels of stress and anxiety across all ages and sectors of the general public are causing a great deal of concern for health authorities, especially when they struggle to meet demands for support.

It has always been important for people to understand themselves so as to create the best conditions in which they can thrive. Paying attention to the facts about mental health and how these issues can affect people on a daily basis only makes sense for society.

More therapy

In the wake of all this insecurity and disruption, there has been a higher demand for mental health services. With the NHS not being able to meet demand, many people are turning to private therapists and counsellors for support, with talking therapies proving particularly popular and effective.

Due to higher demands, therapists have had to adapt their businesses to ensure that they can keep up with the numbers and provide quality assistance to those asking for help.

When looking for private counsellors and therapists, it is important to ensure they have the appropriate qualifications, belong to an appropriate professional body such as the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), and with insurance for therapists increasingly a must-have.

With the stigma surrounding discussing mental health being broken down, businesses are making themselves more attractive to workers by providing more such coverage as part of benefits packages. This can be done in simple ways, such as bringing up the topic during 1-2-1’s or performance reviews. If you are an employee and have mental health issues, do find out what is available for you within the workplace.

Protecting your mental health

How can we protect our mental health more effectively? It might be easier than you think. By doing small helpful things every day that makes us feel good and avoiding the bad habits, we’re able to cope better. Focusing on mental health should form a normal part of our daily choices.

Think about getting adequate sleep: it’s been proven that sleeping inadequately can impact your mood and mental health, so changing this simple habit – if you haven’t got this down already, can really help in the long run.

Another useful tip you could adopt is joining a club. A club that is full of people who share similar interests to you such as a book club or even a dance class. Interacting with people is a crucial part of what makes us human and is something that’s increasingly overlooked due to the stresses of the modern world.

Did you know that exercise affects the brain and, amazingly, you may be surprised to know that you can even reduce anxiety with your food choices?