Dr Maggie Mc Gurgan

‘Businesses that don’t take mental health seriously

will not be successful…….the capabilities that
companies require now centre more on
innovation, communication & emotional
intelligence than just the more straightforward
requirements of strength, dexterity & intellect
that characterised previous eras.’

- Dr Paul Litchfield
• 3/10 employees will have a mental
health problem of some sort in any
one year
Outline
What is Mental Health?
What is Mental Health?
What is Mental Health?

• What is
HEALTH?
No health without
mental health.
 What is Health?
• Physical Health
How our bodies are
Having a healthy body
is really important
Keeping fit
Eating well
Adequate sleep
Stress management
 What is Health?
• Mental Health
How our minds are
Thoughts, feelings, emotions &
behaviours
Having a healthy mind is just as
important as having a healthy body
Can’t ever properly have one
without the other!
The same things that keep our
bodies healthy also keep our minds
healthy
 Stress vs Mental Illness
• Distinction between ‘pressure’, ‘stress’
& ‘mental health problems’
• Everyone feels under pressure
sometimes but not everyone suffers the
adverse effects of stress or a mental
health problem
• One persons ‘spur to action’ is another’s
nightmare & cause of ‘melt down’
• Ability to work under pressure varies
according to what is happening in rest of
one’s life
 Stress vs Mental Illness

• Educate staff about stress

• Encourage discussion
• Raise awareness
• Use resources appropriate to
your service
Mental Health Problems-
The Facts:
 Mental Health Problems-
The Facts:
• Can take many forms including –
severe stress, depression, bipolar affective disorder,
schizophrenia, eating disorders, anxieties, phobias,
obsessive compulsive disorder, drug and alcohol abuse,
post-traumatic stress disorder, complex bereavement and
dementia.

• These are issues which could affect any one of

us.
 Mental Health Problems-
The Facts:
• Named conditions – be informed!
• http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/
mentalhealthinformation.aspx
 Mental Health Problems-
The Facts:
• People feel very uncomfortable talking about mental
health
• A reason for this is stigma 
• People with mental illness can be stereotyped and
discriminated against
• By ridiculing someone we create a barrier that makes us
think we aren’t like that person.
• We want to believe ‘that could never be me’.
• For some people the impact of stigma is worse than the
symptoms of their illness.
• We are frightened of mental illness in a way that we are
not about physical illness.
 Mental Health Problems-
The Facts:
• Psychiatrists are all too aware of the issue of stigma. It affects
every sphere of our work.
• It makes people reluctant to admit that they are struggling with
mental health difficulties and this can delay treatment and
support.
• We are aware of how people’s recovery can be held back by
the barriers that stigma creates, often through problems
encountered at work.
• To reduce stigma and discrimination we need much better
education.
• Teaching people the facts about mental health problems and
getting rid of the myths.
 Mental Health Problems-
The Facts:
• ALL mental health problems can be helped by:
– Support
– Talking Therapies
– Medications

• The prognosis for the vast majority of conditions is very

positive with the right help

• In most cases, even those with long term conditions can be

supported to lead full & productive lives including
employment.
 Schizo, psycho, nutter, freak;
Crazy, loser, loner, geek.
Mental, oddball, spacer, mad;
Loony, bonkers, dangerous, bad.
Wacko, threat, capable of killing;
Insane, scary, not the full
shilling.
Animal, maniac, wrong in the
head;
Violent, evil…better off dead.
 Stigma?

• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Asthma…….
______________________

• Depression
• Alcoholism
• Schizophrenia
 Stigma?

• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Asthma…….

• Depression
• Alcoholism
• Schizophrenia
 Warning Signs
• An increase in unexplained absences or sick leave.
• Poor performance.
• Poor-time-keeping.
• Increased use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco or
caffeine.
• Frequent headaches and backaches.
• Withdrawal from social contact.
• Poor judgement / indecision.
• Constant tiredness or low energy.
• Unusual displays of emotion, e.g. frequent
irritability or tearfulness.
 Warning Signs

• Working slowly
• Missing deadlines
• Difficulty concentrating
• Appearing numb or emotionless
• Withdrawing from work activity
• Overworking
• Forgetting directives, procedures and
requests
• Having difficulty with work transitions or
changes in routines
 Mental Health Issues in the
Workplace

• Be vigilant in the same

way as you would for
any health issues

• Don’t be afraid to ask

 How to help

1. Be mental health
aware
2. Good practices will
be good mental
health practices
3. Promote a culture of
parity of esteem
 How to help

• Encourage access to:

 Staff Support
services
 Occupational health
 GP
 Voluntary Support
Agencies
*As appropriate
 Promote Resilience & Recovery
• Employment can be a key part of
both
• Work is a major part of our lives.
• It is where we spend much of our
time, where we may have most
contact with other people, where we
make our money and where we
sometimes make our friends.
• Having a fulfilling job is good for your
mental health and general well-
being.
How to help
 How to help
• Be aware of your own
negative stereo-types &
stigmatising attitudes

• Seek further advice &

information as needed

• Stop. Think. Understand.

Support.
 Resources
• http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/
usefulresources/
workandmentalhealth/
employer.aspx
• http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/
usefulresources/publications/
books/rcpp/1901242854.aspx
• http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/
healthadvice/moreinformation/
aboutourleaflets.aspx
 Resources
• www.amh.org.uk/
• http://www.hse.gov.uk/
stress/furtheradvice/
stressandmentalhealth.ht
m
• http://
www.health4work.nhs.uk
/
mental_health_in_the_w
ork_place/question_2
 Resources
• http://
www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
our-work/policy/physical-
health-and-mental-health/

• http://www.hse.gov.uk/
stress/pdfs/manage-mental-
health.pdf
• ‘‘All organisations say
routinely ‘People are our
greatest asset’. Yet few
practice what they
preach, let alone truly
believe it’’
– Peter Drucker