Mental Health: Can we be kinder?

Many companies in recent years have invested in their employee’s physical being. This has included implementing and maintaining safety and risk procedures, as well working structures, models, and general advice.

But since the coronavirus pandemic has spread across the globe, more businesses and institutions have increased focus to mental health and well being. In recent weeks, as many workers plan a return to office, mental health has been on the agenda. It started with mental health awareness week in May 2021, in which many businesses took to social media to promote their support for mental health and well being. 

But just a couple of weeks after, it was brought back to the media’s agenda following a range of high-profile individuals sharing their experiences of mental health and depression. This included leading tennis star, Naomi Osaka’s decision to withdraw from this year’s French Open. 

Naomi Osaka announced her withdrawal from the tournament a day after being fined $15,000 by the French Open for this decision. It was understood that her decision was made after refusing to speak with press at the tournament. Within hours of her announcement, celebrities, sports personalities, and reporters were tweeting their reactions to the news. 

Piers Morgan was one of the first to publicly respond. He slammed Naomi’s actions to reflect nothing more than a narcissistic exploitation of mental health in a bid to silence the media. When referring to Ms Osaka, Morgan said that she was, “an arrogant spoilt brat whose fame and fortune appears to have inflated her ego…”

Although some considered Ms Osaka’s behaviour as absurd, others took a more compassionate approach, including former British number one tennis player Andy Murray. Andy empathised with the young player’s situation and could relate to increasing pressure that many young players face when dealing with the press. 

In an interview with Sky News, Andy explained, “Going from an 18- year old playing in front of no people to all of a sudden playing on Wimbledon Centre Court and being commented on your personality and how you might look and how you might talk.

“When you’re 19/20 you’re not prepared for that… I can certainly understand how athletes do struggle with it.”

Meditation App, Calm also stood by the tennis player by pledging to pay Ms Osaka’s fine as well as match the amount as a donation to @LauresusSport, an organization working in mental health space to support lives of young people. 

Historically, mental health has been a rather shameful but also a unknown phenomenon. For years, dealing with depression has often left people suffering with a devasting illness, while having to manage this alongside the social stigmas associated with it.  In many ways, there is still much for the western world to learn about mental illnesses; from symptoms, medications, to cause, care and prevention. We are still learning about mental health while adapting to what feels like, a new way of life. 

Earlier this year, the Office of National Statistics reported that around 1 in 5 adults had experienced depression which had doubled since the coronavirus pandemic. This increase is particularly apparent when exploring younger groups, such as millennials – the burnout generation. One study found that over 50% of millennials have left a job due to a mental health issue. 

It is no surprise that many people have experienced grief, feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious, especially in such unpresedented times. Many will continue to ‘keep calm and carry on’ even if one doesn’t necessarily feel up to it. Whether it is health related or annual leave, there are some people that have to force themselves to take time out. Work commitments, projects, and achieving objectives is likely to take priority. This tenacity is something that I have personally attributed to strength as it takes much determination and at times, courage to be fully committed to one’s job, project, or goal. 

But Naomi Osaka’s story made me question whether I had missed something important. Is there just as much strength to be acknowledged from knowing when to also when to say ‘no’? Is one being the best version of one’s self by knowing when to take a foot of the gas and put one’s needs above the requirements and desires of others? Are we more productive and valuable to our jobs, staff, family, and friends by creating more balance for ourselves? 

Increasingly, it seems that many businesses are willing to consider the latter. Some businesses have kept flexible working options for staff to support employees adapting to new circumstances. Many more are offering to be flexible with employees when advertising new job opportunities. 

Dating App, Bumble, recently announced that it would close its offices for a week, while paying staff to combat workplace stress. Chief Executives ordered employees to take time out and put themselves first. Unlike many businesses, Bumble was not only able to smoothly operate during the pandemic, but additionally had successfully increased its revenue by 30% through paid users in recently times. Bumble Founder, Whitney Wolfe Herd made a quest to make the digital world a ‘kinder’ environment and it has begun within her own business operations. 

Other leading brands including Barclays, Microsoft, Bell, and Virgin have also implemented internal campaigns focusing on the mental health and well-being of their employees.  

Some businesses may question how such initiatives could be affordable? In some cases, it may not be, however if your business has been successfully operating during challenging times, investing in employee well-being now could support job retention and a stronger business performance long term. 

Local businesses are also providing staff with extra time off, bonuses and other work perks, to not only say thank you, but to acknowledge that ‘little bit extra’ many have gone to fulfil their jobs over the past 16 months. This is a fantastic initiative that is well deserved and will be well received by employees. How businesses care for employees speaks volumes to clients, referrers, and the community. If your business is doing something special for your staff, please don’t hesitate to share it with your audiences on social media! Being kind is contagious and as the world faces a return to some form of ‘normality’, it would be great to see more positivity and good business spread instead!

By Stephanie Prior