"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
● 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
● 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