By Richard Latham, CEO and Co-founder of Wellmind Health

In the high-pressure environment of the financial services industry, poor mental health has long been more prevalent than in other sectors. Before the pandemic hit, analysis of its records by HR consultancy AdviserPlus found that 33.9% of absence days in the sector were attributed to mental ill health, compared to 24% in retail and 22% in utilities, with the percentage of absences due to mental health issues increasing year on year.

Some progress was being made in tackling the ‘taboo’ subject of mental health in the workplace, with growing openness in discussing mental health at work and an increase in support initiatives. The changes to lives and working practices and the

additional pressures and uncertainties that COVID-19 and lockdowns have inflicted have moved mental health up the agenda. They have also made the need for improvement even more urgent as the effects on people’s mental health have been significant. Data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that the number of adults experiencing depression has almost doubled since the pandemic began.

At the same, access to traditional diagnoses and treatments has been curtailed by the need for reduced face-to-face contact and pressures on the system. However, there are effective ways that employers can support staff who are struggling, help to prevent a decline in mental wellbeing, and practical tools for staff and leaders to help them improve their own mental health, in our pandemic times and beyond.

It’s important to build and maintain open lines of communication so staff feel able to reach out if they are struggling, whether they are working from home or in the office. Fostering a safe environment for people to share if they are suffering from depression, stress or anxiety, without concern that it will reflect badly upon them or affect their career progression, helps cultivate openness and remove the stigma attached to mental health issues. Remote working makes it more challenging for managers to support team members’ mental wellbeing, but raising the issue and keeping the door open for discussions helps people not to feel isolated and encourages them to seek assistance.

At the same time, leaders are experiencing their own additional pressures in this unsettled period and need to feel free to express if their mental wellbeing is affected. The recent departure of Monzo’s founder, Tom Blomfeld, due to increased stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic is a high-profile case in point. Executives sharing their own struggles also sets a positive example to staff throughout the ranks of companies.

Physical activity and being amongst nature and green spaces can greatly aid our physical and mental health. Just ten minutes of brisk walking can improve mental alertness, energy and boost our mood. Providing flexible working times throughout the day and encouraging staff to get outside regularly and partake in exercise are simple but effective ways to help maintain mental wellbeing.

Flexibility helps allow those who feel under pressure, or have additional responsibilities to contend with while lockdowns continue such as care burdens, to find the space and personal time to reconnect with themselves. Establishing virtual-group times for outdoor activities also has a number of benefits. It underlines their importance of keeping active and getting outdoors, creates dedicated times for doing so, and can also provide a much-needed social element in these restricted times.

Interest in and use of mental health apps has accelerated during the pandemic, with increasing numbers of companies adding digital tools to their support initiatives. Mental health apps offer ease of access and 24/7 availability, and can reduce the stigma associated with accessing mental-health support. With an estimated 10,000-plus mental health-related apps now available on the worldwide market, there’s a wide choice of tools on offer, all of which make bold claims about their benefits. Some can be highly effective, but there are variations in the levels of quality and efficacy of apps so it’s important to find what works best for your and your team’s needs.

About Wellmind Health

Wellmind Health have been pioneers in the space of health apps for over a decade since the launch of their Meditainment library of guided meditations. The company’s Be Mindful and Pathway though Pain flexible online programmes significantly reduce depression, stress and anxiety and dramatically improve the self-management of chronic pain. Clinically proven and NHS-approved, the medication-free digital innovations guide participants to improved, long-term outcomes.

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