Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 #ToHelpMyAnxiety

Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 #ToHelpMyAnxiety

“Anxiety disorders are a type of mental health condition. Anxiety makes it difficult to get through your day. Symptoms include feelings of nervousness, panic and fear as well as sweating and a rapid heartbeat. Treatments include medications and cognitive behavioral therapy. “ Cleveland Clinic (2023)

Most people have felt anxiety at some point in their life. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about a presentation, an interview, an exam, or having a medical test.

At such times feeling anxious can be perfectly normal.

If you find it hard to control your worries anxiety becomes more constant and can then affect daily lives.

Anxiety is the main symptom of several conditions, including:

• panic disorder
• phobias, such as agoraphobia or claustrophobia
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• social anxiety disorder (social phobia)

National Health Service, UK (2023)

Anxiety can also be present when we focus on a future that is not aligned with what we want or our values. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems encountered.

• 60% of employees are experiencing anxiety.

• 67% of employees aged 16-24 are experiencing anxiety.

• 65% of females are experiencing anxiety.

• Only 10% of employees are seeking mental health support

Champion Health (2023)

Anxiety in Teams & Organisations

Energy is contagious – both positive and not so. In teams we can take on the mood of others, you will be able to relate to this statement. If there are experiences of anxious present, it can spread and grow in intensity affecting the wider system too. This projection comes collective worry which in turn can affects performance and impact. Anxiety shows up as conflict, poor motivation and lower productivity. Compassion is needed from the entire system of course and it is important to note that research shows we are sadly more likely to absorb negativity from others that positivity – it’s called the negative bias. (Psychom.net, 2018)

Below are eight strategies that employers can use to encourage positive mental health:

• Encourage active employee participation and decision making.
• Clearly define employees' duties and responsibilities.
• Promote work-life balance.
• Encourage respectful and non-derogatory behaviours.
• Manage workloads.
• Allow continuous learning.

Mental Health Awareness Week

15th – 21st May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The focus for 2023 is anxiety. We are supporting this important focus on increase collective awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on ways to identify, reduce and avoid anxiety.