The Blue Monday Delusion – RoSPA Office Security Weblog

‘Blue Monday’ might not be supported by laborious proof, however melancholy and different psychological well being points are an actual concern within the office.

Earlier than 2005 no-one talked about Blue Monday.

The rationale for it is because the concept the third Monday within the month of January, later dubbed ‘Blue Monday’, was invented in a press launch 15 years in the past. The tactic used to develop the idea has since come beneath a whole lot of scrutiny, however regardless of this, lots of people do endure with their psychological well being throughout the winter.

In line with analysis carried out by pollster YouGov, as many as 29 per cent of UK adults might endure from Seasonal Affective Dysfunction (SAD). SAD is characterised by persistent low temper, irritability, and feeling sleepy throughout the day.


Managing psychological well being within the office

Though emotions of despondency and signs of melancholy can peak in winter months, it is very important keep in mind that psychological well being points can have an actual influence on workplaces all yr spherical.

Final yr, the Well being and Security Government reported that at anybody time, a 3rd of staff within the UK endure with melancholy, stress and anxiousness. In 2017/18 this led to fifteen.4million misplaced working days.

In addition to a lack of productiveness, staff who’re affected by psychological well being points resembling melancholy or stress could also be at larger threat of being concerned in an accident. For a while now, RoSPA, has acknowledged that supporting folks with psychological well being points at work is a key problem for well being and security managers. In 2016 RoSPA printed a coverage place on this topic.

You may look out to your staff or colleagues by studying to identify the indicators of widespread psychological well being problems resembling stress or melancholy:

  • Lack of self-confidence and shallowness
  • Disappointment that does not go away
  • Tiredness/lack of power
  • Problem concentrating
  • Nervousness
  • Emotions of hopelessness
  • Avoiding different folks, even shut pals or household
  • Sleep issues
  • Emotions of guilt or worthlessness
  • Lack of urge for food
  • Self-harm
  • Suicidal ideas.

Psychological well being charity MIND has additional recommendation on the right way to spot psychological well being points at work.

Along with studying to identify the indicators that somebody could also be struggling, it is very important put in place practices that can assist develop a supportive office tradition:

Danger Assessments

In session with security representatives, threat assessments ought to be reviewed in such instances to find out whether or not further measures are mandatory to deal with any potential security efficiency impairments on account of stress (whether or not occupational or non-occupational in origin).

Coaching

Coaching applications for managers and security representatives on the right way to cope with stress mustn’t solely deal with the identification, evaluation and administration of occupational stress and stressors, however the right way to deal with the security influence of non-occupational stress in key workers.

Assist

Employees experiencing stress want re-assurance that any changes to their work for security causes is not going to result in unfair discrimination. Equally, organizations have to have preparations in place to counsel help, and rehabilitate workers who’ve suffered psychological trauma because of accident involvement, whether or not as a casualty or a witness.

For extra recommendation about managing psychological well being within the office please go to the RoSPA web site: www.rospa.com/Occupational-Security/Recommendation/Well being/Stress

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