#WorldMentalHealthDay

World Mental Health Day is a bit like Christmas day, as every year it is on the same date (10 October). Unlike Christmas day, the aim is about raising awareness of mental health issues and rallying efforts in support of better mental health. This year’s focus was mental health at work. While work is recognised as good for your mental health, working in a negative environment can lead to physical and mental health problems. For example, depression and anxiety have a significant economic impact; the estimated cost to the global economy is US$ 1 trillion per year in lost productivity.

How can you help to promote a positive working environment? Here are a few ideas:

1.       Leave the moaning behind – it really doesn’t help
2.       Give positive reinforcement, perhaps by saying how much you enjoyed working with someone, or by giving someone a compliment
3.       Celebrate what went well, rather than focusing on what went wrong
4.       Encourage positive thinking
5.       Get up, get moving, and get some fresh air

​Changing to a more positive working environment takes time and effort, but it is really worth it.