21st century life is fast paced and with its’ seeming reluctance to ease up, this can mean any one of us can experience significant consequences on our mental wellbeing and stress levels. 

Whether it's feeling the need to be constantly connected or balancing your family's requirements with your individual needs, it can sometimes all feel like things are getting on top of you. And it can happen to anybody of any age at any time. 

Adding in a pandemic, we recognise that this has likely to have thrown up even more uncertainty and anxiety - and that this can be especially challenging for anyone who already struggles to manage their mental and physical wellbeing day-to-day. This is why marking World Mental Health Day is so important - and no more so than this year 2020.

The World Federation for Mental Health, which sets the annual theme for the day, believes mental health is a human right and one which is available for everyone.

This year the theme is Mental Health for All – Greater Investment – Greater Access. Everyone, everywhere and is an opportunity for all of us as individuals, and as organisations and employers, to take part in the global conversation to address a historic lack of focus on, and the importance of, good mental health and wellbeing. 

What can we do? 

As individuals, employers and organisations, we’ve all been under very different pressures in 2020.

Whether it’s about the different aspects of living and operating in lockdown, the uncertainty this year has brought in continuing to deliver your business and/or the continuing lack of clarity about what the future looks like, we know this is having real impact.

As employers and organisations

World Mental Health Day 2020 is a chance to make a positive change for the mental health of your workplace, but we recognise it can be hard to know where to start sometimes.

To help we have worked with CIPD award finalist member organisations ICE Group and Fidelity Investments, to look at the strategic importance of positive wellbeing and the initiatives and tools they use in supporting their people. Watch this short video, Stronger with CIPD, on how this worked.

You may also wish to revisit CIPD’s guidance People managers’ guide to mental health where you can find practical information to help support a mentally healthy workplace.

As individuals we can also play our part

Simply taking the time to read this article and engage with the resources available through CIPD Ireland you are taking an opportunity to learn more about mental health and wellbeing which will help you support both yourself and your family, friends and colleagues with theirs. Click here to find out more.