Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event held in the UK to raise awareness about mental health issues and the impact they have on people’s lives. This year’s theme is anxiety, which affects millions of people in the UK. According to the Mental Health Foundation, anxiety is a normal human emotion that we all experience from time to time, but when it becomes excessive and persistent, it can have a debilitating effect on our mental health.
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the UK, with around 1 in 6 people experiencing them in any given week. This equates to around 9.8 million people. Anxiety can manifest itself in a number of different ways, including generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Impact on businesses
Anxiety can have a significant impact on employees and businesses in the UK. It can lead to absenteeism, presenteeism and decreased productivity, which can affect a business’s bottom line. In fact, a report by the Centre for Mental Health found that poor mental health costs UK employers up to £45 billion each year.
How businesses can help
One way that businesses can help employees manage anxiety is by teaching them mindfulness and yoga techniques. Mindfulness involves focusing your attention on the present moment and accepting your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Yoga combines physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
Studies
A study by the University of Sheffield found that introducing mindfulness training in the workplace led to a significant reduction in stress, anxiety and depression in employees. The study also found that productivity increased and absenteeism decreased as a result of the training.
Similarly, a study by the National Institutes of Health found that yoga can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as improve sleep quality and overall quality of life.
Supporting employees
By teaching employees mindfulness and yoga techniques, businesses can create a more supportive and productive working environment. These techniques can help employees to manage stress and anxiety, which can improve their mental health and wellbeing. In turn, this can lead to increased productivity, better employee engagement and reduced absenteeism and presenteeism.
It is important for businesses to recognise the impact that anxiety can have on their employees and take steps to address it. By promoting mental health awareness and teaching employees mindfulness and yoga techniques, businesses can create a more positive and productive working environment. This can have a significant impact on their bottom line, as well as the mental health and wellbeing of their employees.
In conclusion, Mental Health Awareness Week is an important event that raises awareness about the impact of mental health issues on individuals and businesses in the UK. This year’s theme of anxiety highlights the need for businesses to take steps to support their employees and promote positive mental health in the workplace. By teaching employees mindfulness and yoga techniques, businesses can create a more supportive and productive working environment, which can benefit both employees and the bottom line.
For more information on anxiety, check out Anxiety UK
Check out our blog about how to help anxiety.
For more information on how to help employees with mindfulness and yoga, please contact us.