It would seem that the term "mental health" has become somewhat of a buzzword in the current working environment. Employers are now more motivated than ever to make sure that the wellbeing of their team is their priority and they also want to make sure that they are providing support to those who have depression as well. If you want to ensure your mental health is being supported at all times, then this guide will help you.

Talk to a Colleague

The first thing that you need to do is chat with a colleague. Communication will help you to feel way less alone when you are trying to deal with your mental health struggles. You need to try and identify a person who can be trusted and who can support you during your day to day work. Use this person as a resource, so you can talk about your stressors and anything that you might have a problem with. Having a friendly conversation can help you to limit the amount of pressure you are under while also giving you the chance to focus on the other aspects of your day.

Sleep and Exercise

Think about organising a couple of yoga sessions or even a run. If you do this a couple of times a week while you are on your break, then this will really help you and you may even find that you release endorphins too. The feeling of happiness will soon flood your system, and this will make you feel way better about yourself in general.

Drink Sensibly

Alcohol has been known to change your mood and it can also increase your anxiety too. Rather than choosing the alcoholic option whenever you attend a work function, try and opt for a non-alcoholic beverage instead. This will give you the chance to actively enjoy the company of others without you having to worry about feelings of anxiety or even depression.

Ask for Help

You should never, ever stress yourself by overthinking. If you don't ask, you won't get, so make sure that you go to your colleagues or even management to see if they can help. Your employers have a strong responsibility to try and promote your mental health in the workplace, so make the effort to keep them accountable.

Have a Break

Take a break whenever you feel anxious or overwhelmed. UK law states that workers do have rights, so you can take a 20-minute break now and again. The break can be a lunch break, or it can be simply having a cup of tea. Either way, if you find that you use computers quite a lot, then you may want to think about taking a break from the screen if you can.

Set Goals

It's very important that you set goals for yourself. The goals that you set should be both big and small, as you need to have a good sense of accomplishment. If you want to help yourself then consider writing a list of goals every single day. As you work through and as you complete the goals, you can then cross them off your list at the end of the workday.

Help Your Colleagues

Helping your friends and your colleagues is a great way for you to improve your own mental health. If you improve someone else's day, then you will soon find that you can benefit as you will get the satisfaction from helping them out.

Meditate

Meditating before or even after work will help you to evoke a sense of calm. Studies have shown time and time again that meditation will drastically improve your outlook on life and if you have a stressful day, it's a fantastic way for you to take just a few moments for yourself.

How to Improve Mental Health as an Employer

Mental health problems are continuing to rise. In 2017, the NHS implemented the recommendations that were made in a national report. 40 different points were made, and companies which include Deloitte have all created reports to try and help businesses to take action. Some companies, such as Johnson & Johnson actively recognise the importance of self-care. They give all of their team access to physiotherapists and massage therapists. As an employer, you need to make sure that you are fostering a workplace that is completely committed to mental health. If you want to do that, then:

• Have medical resources for those who have health concerns
• Educate employees on the signs of declining mental health
• Encourage and acknowledge effort
• Develop a workspace where your team can feel valued
• Have short breaks for your team during the day

Employees are going to carry on turning to employers to try and get more support, in an attempt to safeguard themselves. If employers take action, then everyone in the workplace will be happier and healthier.