Have you got time for a cup of tea with a colleague?

10 Oct 2011

We make time for the gym, avoid saturated fats and eat our five a day; but how much attention do we pay to our mental health? Mental health problems are more common than you might think and mental health problems like depression and anxiety can affect as many as in one in six working adults.

Sitting down for a cup of tea and a chat can make all the difference to someone who is going through a hard time at home, at work or experiencing a common mental health problem. Sometimes, just talking about difficult situation can make it seem easier to cope with.

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems. They tend to be short lived and are usually treated by your GP.

One of the most common misconceptions about mental health is that work is bad for your mental health. Of course, a stressful situation at work can exacerbate an existing mental health problem but, with support from managers and colleagues, staying in work could be your best route to recovery.

Take a look at these resources for employers on managing mental ill health at work.