Being busy at work is often seen as a badge of honour but there’s a fine line between busyness and burnout — and organisations need to recognise the tipping point.
A Mental Health Foundation survey found that more than 40% of employees are neglecting other aspects of their lives because of their jobs, including their mental health, while one in three feel unhappy or very unhappy about the time they devote to work. Some people feel this more acutely than others: a 2016 study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found that 18% of workplace absences were due to work-related stress, anxiety and depression.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to mental health — but research has shown that social connection is a key factor in wellbeing. That’s why Mental Health Ireland (MHI) is encouraging people to connect on World Mental Health Day, October 10th. This year’s theme is suicide prevention and MHI points out that connecting — with yourself, with others or with your community — can protect mental health in many ways.