Looking After Your Mental Health, a Guide for Software Developers

Slides from my talk about Looking After Your Mental Health, a Guide for Software Developers given at PHP Yorkshire 2018

Transcript

1. Looking after your mental
   health, a guide for software
   developers
   Mark Railton
   

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2. "Why is it so acceptable to tell the
   entire office about your suspected
   case of summer flu, but not approach
   your boss about the stress or anxiety
   that is making it hard for you to do
   your job?"
   Bryony Stone, Writer
   @railto
   

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3. Mental Health Foundation
   “One in four people in the UK will
   experience a mental health problem
   in their lives, and nine out of ten of
   these people will suffer
   discrimination because of it.”
   @railto
   

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4. Who am I?
   ● Senior Software Developer @ Transpoco
   ● Software Development Mentor @ Code Institute
   ● Open Source Project Maintainer for joind.in
   ● PHP-FIG Secretary
   ● Volunteer with Open Sourcing Mental Illness (OSMI)
   @railto
   

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5. Who am I not?
   ● A Doctor
   ● A Mental Health Worker
   ● Qualified to make a diagnosis or advise on treatment
   @railto
   

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6. However,
   I myself struggle with mental health issues and I
   am passionate about overcoming the stigma
   associated with mental health problems.
   @railto
   

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7. Story time...
   

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8. 57% of the general population
   believes that society at large is caring
   and sympathetic toward people with
   mental illness;
   US Centers for Disease Control
   @railto
   

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9. only 25% of people with mental
   health symptoms believed the same
   thing. Society is less understanding
   and sympathetic regarding mental
   illness than it thinks it is.
   US Centers for Disease Control
   @railto
   

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10. Pressure and competitiveness of
    creatives along with the insecurity of
    workflow can lead to anxiety and
    illness
    Dr. Victoria Tischler, University of West London
    @railto
    

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11. 19.7% of UK Population over 16
    showed symptoms of anxiety or
    depression:
    Increased from 15.5% in 1993
    Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, 2014
    @railto
    

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12. 5,965 suicides in the UK in 2016.
    Around ¾ of all suicides in the UK in
    2016 were male
    Office for National Statistics
    @railto
    

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13. Currently, suicide remains the most
    common cause of death in men aged
    between 20-49 in the UK.
    Office for National Statistics
    @railto
    

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14. Mental Illness often goes untreated.
    Historically, treatment options for
    mental health compare unfavourably
    with those for physical conditions
    House of Commons Library
    Briefing on Mental Health Policy
    @railto
    

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15. Mental Illness estimated to account
    for almost 25% of disease burden.
    Only 13% of NHS budget is spent on
    mental health services
    House of Commons Library
    Briefing on Mental Health Policy
    @railto
    

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16. 54% of software professionals report
    suffering from depression, anxiety
    and insomnia.
    U.S. National Institute of Health
    @railto
    

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17. ● Offer a listening ear
    ● Don’t pry and ask for information they are not prepared to
    offer
    ● Seek help when necessary from HR or your manager
    How can colleagues help?
    @railto
    

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18. ● Create a culture that supports staff to be open about their
    mental health
    ● Be able to speak sensitively and empathetically with
    someone about their mental health
    ● Know how to support someone experiencing a mental
    health problem
    ● Be willing to provide time off when necessary
    How can employers help?
    @railto
    

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19. ● Eat properly
    ● Exercise
    ● Get time away from your computer
    ● Find someone you can talk to
    How can you help yourself?
    @railto
    

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20. No Q&A.
    Feel free to speak to me in person if
    you’d like to discuss anything from
    this talk.
    @railto
    

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21. ● https://osmihelp.org
    ● https://mind.org.uk
    ● https://mentalhealth.org.uk
    ● https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health
    Further Resources
    @railto
    

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22. Please rate and review on joind.in at
    https://joind.in/talk/03209
    @railto
    

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