Mental Health Month
May was mental health awareness month, what’s the story of mental health today? A 2019 Mind Share Partners report noted that almost 60 percent of the 1,500 employed respondents sampled reported experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition and said that their productivity was affected by their mental health. More than a third of that group—50 percent of millennials and 75 percent of Gen Z respondents—reported that they had left jobs at least partly because of mental health. This was before the last two years of dealing with the pandemic, foreign wars, inflation, rising prices, mass murders and the Great Resignation.
A Harvard study reveals that young people are both more likely to have behavioral health issues. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 had the highest prevalence of any mental illness—and are more willing to talk openly about psychological well-being and to seek assistance.
An overwhelming 84% of respondents reported at least one workplace factor that negatively impacted their mental health. When looking across all respondents, the most common factor was emotionally draining (e.g., stressful, overwhelming, boring, or monotonous) work which also worsened since the pandemic. This was closely followed by work-life balance.
The good news – companies are more aware of mental health and its impact and are beginning to address it.
The bad news - the latest studies show that 46% of the workforce is currently experiencing burnout and 53% are experiencing high levels of stress. Plus, the impact related to COVID-19 and items listed above incremental annual US health system cost.
When our mental health is strong, it can help us thrive. When we’re struggling, we may need to seek out self-care and coping practices, and/or the support of professionals.
Though the never-ending cycle of mental health issues may leave you feeling disempowered and unsure of how to regain control of your life, there’s good news: it can be done.
The first step is to recognize the specific causes of your condition and reflect on the symptoms they cause, then reframe the cause into what you would like to be experiencing. Anticipate that the symptoms can return. Then refocus on that new experience and imagine with each of your senses your different state. Lastly, reference in your mind how far you have come and celebrate the small triumphs.
Become more aware of mental health issues.
