World Mental Health Day

Introduction

Mental health is an important topic that affects every single person around the world–just like your physical health, it’s important to monitor and look after your mental health. In this blog, we’ll look at what World Mental Health Day is, what mental health is, signs and symptoms of poor mental health, and specifically how to handle mental health in the workplace, including burnout, as well as the stigma that unfortunately still exists around mental health for many people.

What is World Mental Health Day?

This year, World Mental Health Day falls on Thursday, 10 October 2024. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health, including education, awareness, and advocacy.

World Mental Health Day was first celebrated in 1992. The colour associated with this day is green, so some people will wear this colour (or, in particular, a green ribbon) to show support.

What is mental health?

Mental health is a broad term that encompasses a person’s overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being–all of which affect how someone thinks, feels, and acts, including how they may respond to stressors, interact with and relate to other people, and make choices.

Whilst “mental health” can and does include particular disorders, conditions, and disabilities (such as depression, burnout, anxiety, PTSD, and so on), it is also a general term that encompasses your overall mental well-being, regardless of whether you have a specific issue or diagnosis. After all, mental health is fluctuating and ever-present; we all deal with it on a daily basis.

Just like with your physical health, it’s important to be aware of your mental health and how to keep it in good form, as well as understanding what to do if things take a turn.

What affects your mental health?

No two people are the same when it comes to mental health, and it’s something that can be affected on a day-to-day basis. Whilst it’s normal to have an “off” or “bad” day here and there, it’s important not to let these days build up and become your norm.

Some examples of things that can affect your short or long-term mental health include:

• Stress.
• Diet.
• Sleep.
• Exercise.

Biological factors (such as your genes, hormones, and brain chemistry) can also play a role in your mental health, as can previous life experiences (especially if you have suffered abuse or trauma), the seasons (winter is a difficult time for many), and your relationships with others.

What are some signs or symptoms of poor mental health?

It may be a sign that your mental health is suffering if you are experiencing some of the following:

• Avoiding activities you usually enjoy.
• Sleeping too much or too little.
• Eating too much or too little.
• Withdrawing from friends and family.

You may also find that you are feeling generally hopeless or listless, have consistent low energy, are having issues concentrating, or are using mood-altering substances (such as drugs or alcohol) more frequently or to excess.

It’s also sometimes possible to experience physical problems if your mental health is in a poor state. This is often characterised by stomach or back pain, headaches, and general unexplained aches and pains.

How do I handle mental health and work?

It’s perfectly normal to experience periods of stress, but it’s important to manage these periods so that they don’t go on for too long, or become overwhelming or unmanageable.

Below are some things you can do to help maintain your mental health when it comes to the workplace. Many of us at Pharmacy Prime do these things ourselves–in fact, we did a quick survey amongst our employees to see what they recommended!

• Patricia said she likes to take breaks throughout the day; when possible, she goes for a walk or reads a favourite book for a few minutes.
• Adam said he feels better when he’s mindful about eating a healthy, balanced diet before, during, and after the workday.
• Alina finds it helpful to go to the gym regularly, working out stress there–and says that her overall energy level is higher when she’s exercising on a regular basis.
• Fiona likes to schedule her tasks in a planner and remain organised; having a plan brings her peace of mind.

You should remember as well that you are entitled to use your sick leave and holiday days as needed.

If you find that your work is regularly causing you to have poor mental health, consider confiding in a trustworthy colleague, supervisor, partner, friend, or therapist. You can also ask for accommodations at work. Your employer may be able to help by adjusting your hours to make them flexible, modifying your assignments, or helping you to have a quieter workplace.

It’s also important to recognise that, at the end of the day, your life and health are more important than your work. It’s possible that your occupation just may not be a great fit for you–and that’s okay. There are other job opportunities that may be a better fit for you and allow you to maintain better mental health than your current occupation.

What is burnout, and what are burnout symptoms?

Burnout is typically used to refer to the result of chronic, unmanaged workplace stress, which can lead to physical, mental, or emotional exhaustion and a lack of motivation, decreased performance, and a negative attitude at work.

If you’re experiencing some of the following, you may be suffering from burnout:

• Questioning the value of your work, or doubting your skills.
• Having issues getting started at work or focusing.
• Feeling removed or distant from your work and colleagues.
• Losing patience more often with colleagues, customers, or clients.
• Lacking energy.
• Getting little satisfaction from your work, or feeling let down by your job.

You should note that while we specifically address workplace burnout here, burnout can easily apply to other activities you are involved in on a frequent and regular basis, e.g. if you are a competitive athlete outside of your normal job, you can feel burned out from training and competition. 

In all instances of burnout, it may be helpful for you to speak to someone, such as a therapist. You may also find that it helps to examine what’s going on in your workplace. Do you feel like you have little control over how you do your job? Is there ongoing workplace conflict? Do you feel that you have adequate support at work? Is there an appropriate balance between your work and life?

Consider what, if anything, might be able to be adjusted to improve your situation, and speak with your supervisor about implementing some of these changes.

Sometimes, you may also just need a break. Take advantage of your sick days and holiday leave.

How do I deal with the stigma around mental health?

Unfortunately, some people still feel that mental health is something that shouldn’t be discussed or addressed–this is considered a stigma, and it’s a stigma someone can have about themselves or about others.

However, it’s important to remember that mental health, just like physical health, is something that affects us all. It’s essential that we monitor and look after our mental health.

We can all work to reduce the stigma around mental health by being more open about it and treating it as just as important as our physical health. World Mental Health Day in part exists to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health, including education, awareness, and advocacy. You can take part by wearing green on this day, or a green ribbon, and making it a point to openly and positively discuss mental health.

In summary

Mental health is something that affects every person around the world, and it is just as important as our physical health. However, there is often still a stigma around mental health, which World Mental Health Day hopes to address by raising more awareness and mobilising efforts around education, awareness, and advocacy. It’s important to recognise and address signs and symptoms of poor mental health, especially in the workplace–including burnout–and to do your part to reduce the stigma around something that we all deal with on a daily basis.