World Mental Health Day is on 10th October 2023

The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is 'Mental health is a universal human right'.

Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet one in eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, which can impact their physical health, their well-being, how they connect with others, and their livelihoods.

Sign up to one of our Well-being challenge workshops in October or November to support your employees mental wellbeing and learn practical skills and strategies, your employees can use to cope with stress, manage their emotions and enhance resilience

Government, employers, the organizations which represent workers and employers, and other stakeholders responsible for workers’ health and safety can help to improve mental health at work through action to:

• prevent work-related mental health conditions by preventing the risks to mental health at work;

• protect and promote mental health at work;

• support workers with mental health conditions to participate and thrive in work; and

• create an enabling environment for change.

Action to address mental health at work should be done with the meaningful involvement of workers and their representatives, and persons with lived experience of mental health conditions.

Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. Exercise has also been found to alleviate symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal.

When you have depression or anxiety, exercise often seems like the last thing you want to do. But once you get motivated, exercise can make a big difference.

Exercise helps prevent and improve a number of health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis. Research on depression, anxiety and exercise shows that the psychological and physical benefits of exercise can also help improve mood and reduce anxiety.