Employees concerned about mental wellbeing
Irish rugby players have been back at work for some time and have been involved in new research for the Tackle Your Feelings mental wellbeing campaign.
Rugby Players Ireland and Zurich’s new research is focussed on the Irish public’s attitudes and perceptions towards their return to their workplace, and their mental wellbeing.
Some workplaces are set to welcome staff back for the first time since the outbreak of Covid-19, albeit under new working conditions. The research, funded by the Z Zurich Foundation, revealed some two in five Irish people are anxious about returning to their physical place of work, with women more likely to state they are anxious than men (47 per cent vs 38 per cent). Furthermore, one in three people reported they are concerned they won’t have the mental wellbeing support they need when returning to their workplace. This increases to half (49 per cent) of 18-24 year olds.
The research, commissioned by the Z Zurich Foundation & Rugby Players Ireland and conducted by iReach highlights the significant issue of mental wellbeing for Irish people as a result of Covid-19.
- Over a third (39 per cent) state their current working situation has had a negative impact on their mental wellbeing
- 40 per cent of Irish people are unsure how to manage their mental wellbeing, and this rises to 57 per cent of 18-24 year olds, and 55 per cent of 25-34 year olds. Just three in ten people are using online resources or apps to support their mental wellbeing
- For over a third of people (38 per cent) their work life balance has negatively impacted on their mental wellbeing, and the 25-34 year olds were most likely to experience this at 53 per cent
- Six in ten people state the outbreak of Covid-19 has impacted on their mental wellbeing, with 49 per cent stating their mental wellbeing has diminished. 62 per cent state they have been proactively looking after their mental wellbeing during the pandemic
The research also revealed some of the supports that employers have put in place with 46 per cent stating their employer or line manager has provided additional mental wellbeing resources as a result of Covid-19.
Over half (54 per cent) of Irish people believe returning to their physical place of work will positively impact their mental wellbeing, with six in ten people (62 per cent) reporting they have a good team in work who help them maintain their mental wellbeing, and this increases to 74 per cent of 25-34 year olds.
68 per cent of Irish people believe seeing their work colleagues again will have a positive impact on their mental wellbeing. However, half of the respondents don’t think their manager or line manager provides adequate mental wellbeing resources for them and their colleagues and four in ten people state they are hiding a lot of issues and challenges they are facing from their employer.
Tackle Your Feelings Campaign Manager Hannah McCormack said: “The research also revealed one in ten Irish people had to take time off work due to their mental wellbeing during the pandemic and this rises to one in four 18-34 year olds. It highlights the significant impact this pandemic has had on people’s mental wellbeing, and that many are anxious about the supports from employers as they prepare to return to their physical place of work.
“With more people returning to workplaces over the coming months, we believe the Tackle Your Feelings (TYF) programme and other wellbeing initiatives will be a critical resource as people begin to adapt to their new working environments and try to take control of their mental wellbeing despite the uncertainty we are all facing.”
The TYF app and website encourages people to be proactive about their mental wellbeing.
The app and website also feature sections on relationships, confidence, happiness/sadness, sleep, self-care, resilience, anger, relaxation, optimism and self-awareness. It also has a mindfulness section where users can select from several mindfulness exercises.
The research also highlighted concerns around the potential for a second lockdown, with almost two thirds (63 per cent) of Irish people concerned about the impact a second lockdown would have on their mental wellbeing which rises to 72 per cent of 18-24 year olds. One in four people stated they don’t think they would be able to manage a second lockdown rising to half of 18-24 year olds.