Mental health, let’s talk about it.  Every year, one in four people experience a mental health problem but hundreds of thousands of people are still not getting the help they need. This is why organisations like Mind are so important. We’re proud to support this charity in its incredible work to raise awareness and understanding of mental health while providing support for those that are struggling. 

Since the pandemic conversations around mental health are much more commonplace. Research by Mind shows that 73% of people that have spoken to someone about their mental health report having a positive conversation and 63% agreed that it’s getting easier to talk about it. That said, 25% of surveyed UK adults who experienced a worsening of their mental health during the pandemic are yet to have a first conversation about it. This equates to around one million people. It’s clear that we still have a long way to go.

For a long time, mental health in the workplace has been a taboo. Mind’s research reveals that not only can this have fateful consequences, this culture of fear and silence can be costly for employers too. If we look at the statistics, 21% of the people surveyed agreed that they had called in sick to avoid work due to stress with 14% resigning as a result and 42% considering it. 

Though not a solution, if the stigma were removed from mental health, perhaps more open conversations could aid people in getting the support they need and solutions put in place. As it currently stands, 30% of people report not being able to talk with their line manager if they were feeling stressed.

We launched isin (unknowingly) right before the start of the pandemic. The impact that this would have on the world, our clients and our team was unprecedented. We were thrown into juggling the complexities of starting a business with increasing global uncertainty closing in. The whole team was working from home – a concept which, at the time, was very unfamiliar. As a new team, this situation quickly forced us to stay connected by checking in with each other. We found the difficult conversations easier to have and as a result, we’re able to support our team in the ways they needed. Now we’ve settled into hybrid working, this open attitude is firmly embedded into the agency culture. While we recognise that this isn’t a cure all, it’s a strong step in the right direction.

As part of its continued mission to help everyone that needs it, Mind has launched a dedicated initiative called Mental Health At Work. It has a ton of free resources for employees, business leaders and people looking to get support.