Being locked up at home is affecting the mental health of the British
Restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus have caused stress, anxiety, and depression to far exceed levels generally seen in the UK, research from the University of Nottingham shows.
In the early stages of confinement, 57% of those who participated reported symptoms of anxiety, and 64% reported common signs of depression.
Research from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also shows that the number of male suicides has reached its highest level in two decades, peaking in the 45-55-year-old age category.
The male suicide rate of 16.9 deaths per 100,000 is the highest since 2000.
“The mental health of the British is at risk.”
Mish Liyanage is Managing Director of The Mistoria Group, a specialist in buy-to-rent investments for students.
He said: “Unfortunately, 12 months ago, one of our young staff members committed suicide, and it was a massive shock to all of us, and it took us months to recover.”
“Without a doubt, this year has been a very stressful one for everyone in the real estate industry.”
“Whether you’ve worried about contracting Covid-19, fears of layoff, bereavement, or the nuts and bolts of working remotely, while homeschooling children, homeowners, investors, tenants, and contractors have faced great pressure this year.”
He added: “Business owners across real estate have also been under incredible stress, dealing with challenging business conditions, implementing the leave scheme, managing staff working from home, and reconfiguring their offices to be safe for employees returning.”
“The pandemic has perhaps highlighted the real need for change in terms of addressing the mental health needs of employees. The industry must recognize mental health risks in the workplace and act to reduce short- and long-term impacts.”
“It is important to allow employees to get professional mental support if they need it, along with training, counseling, and time off from work. Remote work has brought many advantages, such as cost savings and greater flexibility in family life. Still, without a doubt, there are drawbacks, such as loneliness.”
Things to keep in mind
Mistoria Group issued the following tips to improve mental health in the workplace:
Stay up-to-date with your team regularly.
Regular team updates are a great starting point for maintaining a sense of connection with your team. While your current working setup may make these updates more challenging to implement than usual, they are worth scheduling.
Watch for signs of struggle.
When it comes to evaluating how employees are coping, keep an eye out for changes in behavior. Body language (if you’re still seeing staff in person) can be a pretty reliable indicator of mood, as can the underlying tone of emails and phone calls and the speed at which employees respond.
Organize regular meetings with the staff you care about.
If you feel that someone on your team needs support, be sure to follow up, preferably in a private setting or in a one-on-one phone or video meeting, where you can encourage them to talk openly about their feelings.
Provide support, both inside and outside the workplace
If one of your employees is struggling, be responsive. When possible, approve leave requests or consider organizing modified tasks to reduce immediate pressure while still allowing the staff member to stay connected to work. If they need more structured support, connect them to your employee assistance plan or other high-quality mental health resources and services outside your company.
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