For many of us, work is a major part of our lives. Our workplace is somewhere we spend the majority of our time, so the importance of a positive working environment shouldn’t be overlooked.
According to research conducted by Mind, a mental health charity in England and Wales, more than 1 in 5 people agreed that they had called in sick to avoid work when asked how workplace stress had affected them. Research also showed that a massive 42% agreed they had considered resigning from their jobs.
While we’ve always been mindful of how the Punch Bunch are feeling, last week we honed in on the importance of Mental Health during Mental Health Awareness Week, and we’ve certainly become more educated on what more we can do as an agency to support and promote better mental health in the workplace.
Our studio manager, Helen, who has recently completed a number of mental health courses, kindly put some events together for the team to take part in. This included virtual yoga, extended lunch breaks and an open conversation about mental health.
The conversation was an opportunity for us, as a team, to open up about our experiences with mental health, and to share any advice on how we’ve dealt with our struggles in the past or are doing so at present.
“After my mum passed away, my anxiety got so bad that I just wasn’t enjoying life like I used to. That’s when I decided to see a counsellor. It was one of the best things I ever did and now, if I ever feel my anxiety creeping up on me, I know I have someone to talk to and the tools to help myself. I would definitely recommend speaking to a professional if you’re struggling.” – Amber, Copywriter at Punch Creative
Following the response, we looked at some of the ways in which we could help the team to feel more supported.
We’ve started to discuss having weekly yoga sessions, setting time aside for conversations about mental health and even shortening our workweek – something which has been proven to increase productivity and improve the wellbeing of employees.
We also used the opportunity to ask our clients about mental health in the workplace, and the response we got was great.
“Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind, always. As a manager, I look out for my team members and will act if I see any signs of worry or stress. Plus, I understand that genuinely feeling appreciated at work gives confidence, lifts spirits and makes you want to do more. Add to that a positive and fun working environment and it can really pay dividends and help with mental health.” – Jonty, Marketing Manager at PFG
We’re really happy to see the stigma around mental health slowly disappearing, and it’s great to hear more people opening up honestly about their experiences as well as displaying a deeper understanding about how work stresses can affect lives.
If you’d like to find out more about how we’re working towards promoting better mental health in the workplace, please don’t hesitate to contact us – [email protected].