What’s Up with Men’s Mental Health At Work?
Let’s be honest…When it comes to mental health there are very few men of any age who openly admit to feeling comfortable discussing this subject, especially on a personal level. Granted this may not be the case for all men but consider yourself very fortunate if you are one of the few who feels like they have the resources available to talk about their feelings and emotions, or ask for help with their mental wellbeing, especially within the workplace, and even more so if you are struggling.
Of men surveyed in a National Health Interview Survey 9% said they experienced daily symptoms of depression or anxiety, but only 1 in 4 spoke to a professional. The reasons for this are often attributed to fears of displaying weakness or vulnerability, toxic masculinity, patriarchal systems, unhealthy workplace culture or unhelpful behavioural patterns within friendship groups.
Wherever the stigma around men’s mental health may have derived from, the one thing that is evident in 2023 is that although we may finally be talking a little more about it, and beginning to normalise mental health being an intrinsic part of our overall wellbeing, we still have a long way to go.
Why should there be such a strong focus on taking care of men’s mental wellness within the workplace? As things have reached crisis point for many we can no longer deny that there is a duty of care for employers to offer access to varying levels of mental health support. For men it is not always an easy step to ask for this support, and this might be one of the greatest challenges we are yet to overcome. According to a survey conducted by the National Business Group on Health, 82% of employees said that they would feel more comfortable discussing their mental health with their manager if their employer offered resources and support.
Other than from a human and moral perspective, there is, of course, a tangible impact on absenteeism, levels of engagement, and the overall sense of community within a working environment when individuals are experiencing challenges with mental wellbeing.
Prevention is better than cure! A recent report from Deloitte has revealed that the cost to UK employers of poor mental health has increased from £45bn in 2019 up to £56bn in 2020-21 with 61% of those leaving jobs citing mental health as the main reason. According to reports from the ONS over 12.7% of all sickness absence days in the UK can be attributed to mental health conditions.
Since the pandemic our working environments have changed significantly, and for many this has impacted the amount of contact time they have with others day to day. This can make asking for support even more challenging when many of us are working remotely and could be experiencing a sense of isolation.
Key data published in the Men’s Mental Health Forum suggests that men may be more likely to lack some of the known precursors to good mental health, and recent studies have shown that men have measurably lower access to the social support of friends, relatives, and community. There is ongoing debate over the accuracy of many statistics around men’s mental health as it is likely large numbers of men suffering from symptoms of poor mental health may remain undiagnosed due to not speaking out about their challenges or feeling like they have access to a safe space in which to talk.
We need to place greater awareness on providing necessary tools, resources and ongoing infrastructure for men within the workplace, accessible to all, and of varying levels, to help reduce the impact of stress, depression and poor mental health.
Led by Tor, our Men’s Wellbeing Coach, the MindVibes Men’s Ciircle is a safe and non-judgemental space for men to share and talk. Delivered over Zoom, this group circle is not therapy, yet, is very therapeutical and provides the opportunity for men to find a way forward together.