Mental Health Coaching
Mental health affects anyone and everyone. For the first time since the pandemic, we have been allowed to say out loud that “its ok to not be ok”. The collective fear and changes to our lives meant that we were unified in the emotions that came with it.
But this new openness to explore feelings and talk about anxiety, panic, depression wasn’t always the case. In contrast historically there has been a stigma attached to talking about how you are feeling.
To vocalise something was wrong felt like you were admitting “you’re going mad, not up for the job or that you have failed in some way”. For many such an admission would most definitely mean you’d be overlooked for any promotion or chance of life success.
But talking about your mental health is none of those things and the spectrum of mental health disorders is vast from serious psychosis right down to anxiety and panic disorder and it doesn’t mean that you are weaker or not as strong because of them.
What we can take from last year is that we are all vulnerable and susceptible to worry, stress and anxiety and we all need to talk and be allowed the space to think and process how we are feeling right now.
I know personally we rose to the challenge during lockdown and provided our service to NHS staff across the UK. What was evident throughout these sessions was people just wanted to voice their fears, the fear that rightly came with the unknown. And coaching made it possible to give each person time to rationalise some of their fears and find their own answer to some of the challenges they faced. Our goal is to take away the stigma that comes with mental health and to really embrace the benefits of what talking can bring to an individual.
How common are mental health problems?
- 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England
- 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England
How can coaching help?
We create a safe space that enables our clients to feel secure to just talk.
The ability to offload and be able to explore feelings in a non -judgemental way has extremely positive and lasting mental health benefits. During a session many issues may arise that a client feels has previously been insurmountable to overcome. The beauty of actively listening and gently asking thought-provoking questions opens possibilities and doors to a client that were never there before.
Giving options and hope to longstanding issues can not only alleviate stress and mood but can develop a mindset and re-programme negative thought processes in life-changing ways.
What’s the impact to business?
- 70 million workdays are lost each year to mental health problems in the UK
- The cost to employers is approximately £2.4 billion per year
- The Equality Act 2010 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995 means mental health problems are protected from discrimination and harassment and are now entitled to
What can we as a business do for our staff?
We often go into businesses, who have focussed solely on training needs over the years, and they ask us “What else can we do?”. Our mental health coaching is needed now more than ever before.
We take our sessions into businesses, large and small, providing face to face or online options. Each employee has a 45-minute space each month to feel safe and just talk. We make no conditions other than just relax and say what’s on your mind.
The benefits of investing in staff and allowing them the luxury to explore feelings, concerns and issues is as valuable as any other training provided. Happier, healthier people are more mentally strong, productive, and more progressive in future thinking.