From a hypnotherapy perspective, much can be done to support mental and physical health in the workplace. Of course it can. All we need to do is embrace the fact that mental health issues are on the rise, it is a societal problem. Whilst it is true that in recent years, much has been done to develop a health and wellbeing agenda, a health and wellbeing at work survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and SimplyHealth, in 2021, the survey indicated that 27% of organisations are still more ‘reactive’ than ‘proactive’ and only 67% of managers consider wellbeing important. This is quite a sad fact, that profit drives the majority of business and mental health is considered a luxury.
I wonder what would happen if mental health came first and profits second…I wonder if businesses would be more productive in the long run with less absences in the workplace?
The report also indicated that mental health is the most common focus of health and wellbeing activity, with aspects such as stress management, work-life balance, lifestyle choices and physical health all receiving attention. However, whilst eye tests were commonly provided as a wellbeing initiative (67% of organisations surveyed), just 15% offered access to a complementary therapy. This was the least provided out of all health promotion initiatives, with physical health such as yoga classes and the offers of fitness trackers being much more likely to be offered.
Other Statistics
Working conditions and environment can have a huge impact on mental health and, equally, someone’s mental health can have a significant impact to perform well in their job.
- 1 in 6.8 people are experience mental health problems in the workplace (14.7%).1
- Women in full-time employment are nearly twice as likely to have a common mental health problem as full-time employed men (19.8% vs 10.9%).2
- Evidence suggests that 12.7% of all sickness absence days in the UK can be attributed to mental health conditions.3
It would seem that the reactive response to mental health is still more common, with a gradual increase in access to talking therapy rising from 56% in 2016 to 74% in 2021. This is supported by the findings that stress continues to be one of the most significant causes of both short and long-term absence from work, with a staggering 91% of survey respondents reporting stress-related absence in the last year in organisations with over 250 employees (79% in smaller companies). In addition, 21% considered their organisation was ineffective at addressing stress.
Can hypnotherapy help with wellbeing in the workplace?
So, can hypnotherapy help? Absolutely! It offers both proactive and reactive measures that can be taught, easily and effectively to employees, so that they are empowered in their own mental and physical health self-care.
Reducing stress
Some workplaces can be very stressful environments. Many days off are taken due to stress, which can lead to health disorders. When an individual is dealing with high levels of stress, one single bad experience at work could push them to breaking point. Hypnosis can help by altering anxieties, fears and behaviour. Often, stress can be a deeper issue that may have been caused by several prior events. Hypnotherapy can seek out these underlying problems and allow the person to re-learn how to relax.
Managing conflict
Conflict is unavoidable in many areas of life, and the workplace is no different. Sometimes there may be strained relationships between employees, or between senior management and other staff. Hypnotherapy can allow an individual to think more deeply about why this conflict is occurring, and give them tools to manage it. For those who fear confrontation, hypnosis can also help by improving confidence levels, enabling them to speak up for themselves.
Happier employees
Employees who are free from stress, conflict and worry will be happier and therefore more productive in the workplace. By allowing their employees to undergo stress reduction coaching and/or light hypnosis, employers are assured that the needs of their staff are being listened to. This leads to staff feeling more valued and it creates positive thoughts about their workplace: win-win.
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