While the exact date and contributing factors for Blue Monday may be open to interpretation, the employee benefits team at Everywhen explains that January may one of the most difficult times of the year, however, as all pillars of health and wellbeing are inextricably linked, and all affect mental health, the company is urging employers to be prepared to support employees where necessary and across all pillars, including physical, financial and social.
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Blue Monday falls on the third Monday of January and is said to be the most depressing day of the year, based on weather conditions, debt levels, time since Christmas, time since New Year’s resolutions were made and broken and low motivational levels. However, Everywhen is a big supporter of the principle that all four pillars of health and wellbeing must be firmly in place to support the whole employee. Indeed, the Blue Monday concept shows how the breakdown of other elements of wellbeing can lead to an overall decrease in mental health.
“Blue Monday marks the meeting of many factors contributing to overall poor mental health, these include low ebbs in all four pillars of health and wellbeing, where finances are pushed, social batteries are low, physical health can be poor after the excesses of the holiday season, and mental health can consequently hit a low,” says Debra Clark, head of wellbeing at Everywhen.
Mental health in figures
Everywhen’s own research conducted last January shows that mental health topped the list as the area of most concern to employers regarding their employees. Mental health was put above worries about physical, financial and social health, and was a concern to over half (51%) of employers regarding their staff. However, all pillars of health and wellbeing were of a concern to many: 49% of employers said they were concerned about the physical health of their staff, 46% were worried about the financial health, and 33% were worried about the social health of their workforce.1
Support for all pillars
January can be a difficult time for many, and employers need to be aware of this so they can ensure support is available and accessed when needed. Mental health can be supported by encouraging employees to look at the other pillars of health and wellbeing. A healthy lifestyle, supported by gym membership and fitness apps, for example, can have a positive impact on mental health. Helping employees with their financial wellbeing, such as providing financial education can help to alleviate anxiety over budgeting. Wellbeing events and mental health champions can help to meet the social needs of employees as well as show that the company has a positive ethos towards mental health.
Debra Clark says: “While January can be challenging, putting support in place for all four pillars of health and wellbeing will help to boost the mental health of employees throughout the year. This will build resilience towards the challenges that employees can face year-round.”
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