UK CEO of HSBC, mental health charity Mind rep, comedian Ruby Wax, Reuters journalist mental health head, and Minds at Work advocate share experiences of mental health breakdown at work. Discussed topics include business impact on mental health, personal stories of work-related struggles, supportive leadership, and daily recovery practices for mental well-being.
Addressing mental health in the workplace is crucial for employee well-being and business success, Failing to address mental health issues leads to significant costs and loss of talented employees, and Recognizing and managing mental health, promoting self-care, and fostering supportive environments are crucial for individuals at work.
Deep dives
Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace
Addressing mental health in the workplace is crucial for employee well-being and business success. Leaders like UK CEO of HSBC emphasize that mental health impacts absenteeism, performance, and overall organizational well-being. Failing to address mental health issues leads to significant costs and loss of talented employees, emphasizing the need for businesses to prioritize emotional and mental safety.
Challenges and Progress in Mental Health Support
Despite increasing awareness, stigma around mental health persists in the workplace. Employees often fear disclosing mental health issues to employers due to concerns about treatment. Companies have started engaging more in mental health initiatives, but substantial corporate policy changes are necessary to create a culture of support and understanding for mental health challenges.
Personal Experiences and Call for Empathy
Personal testimonies from individuals like Ruby Wax and Jeff McDonald shed light on navigating mental health challenges at work. Their experiences emphasize the importance of recognizing and managing mental health, promoting self-care, and fostering supportive environments in organizations. Open dialogues, understanding symptoms, and providing appropriate support can help individuals manage mental health issues effectively.
On World Mental Health Day, we hear the experiences of people who've suffered a mental health breakdown at work, and ask what employers can do to support them. We hear from Ian Stuart, the UK CEO of the global bank HSBC, Paul Farmer from the mental health charity Mind, American comedian and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax, Dean Yates, the head of journalist mental health and wellbeing strategy at the news agency Reuters, Geoff McDonald, global advocate and campaigner of Minds at Work, and Dr Claire Douglas, head of occupational health and wellbeing at SCS Railways in the UK.
Producer: Laurence Knight
(Photo: Depiction of workplace stress, Credit: Getty Images)
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