How to help dogs and cats manage separation anxiety when their humans return to work
Has lockdown made your pet extra clingy?
02 January, 2021
Photo by Ga on Unsplash
When one of my co-workers found out about a tiny, orphaned kitten that needed a home a few months ago, he didn't hesitate to adopt it.
<p> He says his new companion helped make the months of COVID-19 isolation at home much less stressful.</p><p>He is not alone. Animal shelters and breeders across the country have <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/12/adoptions-dogs-coronavirus/" target="_blank">reported</a> <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-coronavirus-pet-adoption-boom-is-reducing-stress-138074" target="_blank">record numbers of dog and cat adoptions</a> in recent months.</p><p>But after my co-worker returned to work, he says his adorable kitten started <a href="https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/behavioral/can-cats-have-separation-anxiety" target="_blank">urinating on the kitchen counter</a> while he was away.</p><p>Another friend is worried about how her dog will react when she returns to the office. Her big, goofy Labrador retriever follows her everywhere, even to the bathroom. When she leaves to run a quick errand, <a href="https://www.insider.com/prevent-separation-anxiety-in-dogs" target="_blank">the dog sits by the back door and whines</a>, awaiting her return.</p><p>What should these pet owners do?</p>
<h2>The problem with sudden changes in routine</h2><p>A change in routine, such as suddenly being alone for many hours every day, is a major cause of <a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.2003.222.1526" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">separation anxiety for both dogs and cats</a>.</p><p>Separation anxiety is more than a little whimpering when you head out the door. It's <a href="https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/separation-anxiety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">major, unwanted behavior</a> that happens every time you leave or are away.</p><p>For <a href="https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2001.219.467" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dogs</a> and <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(19)31086-3.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cats</a>, this can mean excessive pacing, barking or howling, whimpering or self-grooming as you get ready to leave. In some cases it can mean urinating or defecating around the house, often in places where scents linger, such as on bedding or rugs, or destroying household items in your absence. Extreme clinginess or neediness is another symptom.</p><p>Separation anxiety won't go away on its own, and it can be difficult to get rid of entirely. But there are ways to manage it. As a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=X6pGNp8AAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">clinical veterinarian and professor</a>, I am often asked to help people find ways to ease their pets' anxiety.</p>
<h2>What not to do</h2><p>First, it's important to understand that it's not about you – <a href="http://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00499" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">it's about your pet</a>. Your dog or cat is not trying to teach you a lesson or get revenge. Animals don't act out of spite.</p><p>Instead, it's a signal of extreme distress and frustration that should be approached like any other medical ailment. Your pet doesn't want to experience separation anxiety any more than you want to experience its consequences.</p><p>For this reason, punishment is never the answer. For one thing, your pet won't connect the punishment with something that happened hours – or even a few minutes – earlier. And punishment may only exacerbate your pet's anxiety and stress.</p><p>Similarly, going to the opposite extreme by <a href="https://vvma.org/resources/Documents/Pike-Common%20anxiety%20disorders%20notes.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">praising or giving affection</a> when your pet is suffering anxiety also will make the problem worse.</p><p>The goal is to create a balanced relationship so your pet tolerates being alone. First, get your pet checked out by a veterinarian to rule out physical conditions, such as a urinary tract infection <a href="https://www.vetsmall.theclinics.com/article/S0195-5616(18)30131-1/fulltext#secsectitle0075" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">if your pet urinates in inappropriate places</a>.</p><p>Next, make sure your pet gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. For dogs, this may mean a long run or brisk walk every day. <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0141907" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Getting exercise shortly before you leave the house</a> may put your dog in a more relaxed state while you're gone. It's harder to feel stressed when the endorphin levels are elevated. For cats, this could mean a change of environment by being outdoors in a safe, enclosed area such as a "<a href="https://www.countryliving.com/life/kids-pets/a35760/catios-trend/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">catio</a>."</p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTE0ODAyNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MjgwMjEwM30.S_uvs9D2AfXDGBAtEewANvtM8fgHEIY_oga5j4xaDR4/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0&height=700" id="e2d37" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7f2f5705c11ead08092212f4efe6141a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="How to treat separation anxiety in pets." data-width="1245" data-height="700" />
Photo by bradley pisney on Unsplash
<h2>Treating separation anxiety with behavior change</h2><p>Here, we're talking about your behavior. The goal is to make your absence <a href="https://www.dovepress.com/canine-separation-anxiety-strategies-for-treatment-and-management-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-VMRR" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">seem like no big deal</a>. Making a fuss over your pet when you leave or arrive home only makes matters worse. If you treat it like it's routine, your pet will learn to do the same.</p><p>Try to <a href="https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/chapter/10.22233/9781905319879.chap14" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">figure out when your pet starts to show signs of anxiety</a> and turn that into a low-key activity. If it's when you pick up your handbag, for example, practice picking it up and putting it back down several times over a few hours. Similarly, get dressed or put on your shoes earlier than usual but stay home instead of leaving right away. Try starting your car's engine and then turning it off and walking back inside.</p><p>Next, practice short absences. When you're at home, make it a point to spend some time in another room. In addition, leave the house long enough to run an errand or two, then gradually increase the time that you're away so that being gone for a full day becomes part of the family routine.</p><h2>Changing the environment</h2><p>Boredom makes separation anxiety worse. Providing an activity for your pet while you're gone, such as a puzzle toy stuffed with treats, or simply hiding treats around the house will make your absence less stressful. Other options for dogs and cats include <a href="https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/156/17/533" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">collars and plug-in devices that release calming pheromones</a>.</p><p>To maintain your bond while you're gone, place a piece of clothing that you have worn recently in a prominent place, such as on your bed or couch, to comfort your pet. Similarly, you can leave the TV or radio on – there are even special programs just for pets – or set up a camera so you can observe and interact with your pet remotely. Some of these come equipped with a laser pointer or treats you can dispense.</p>
<h2>Using supplements or medication</h2><p>In some severe cases, when the animal harms itself or causes property damage, medication or supplements might be necessary. These alter the brain's neurotransmitters to create a sense of calm.</p><p>While some are readily available without a prescription, it's a good idea to <a href="https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2000.217.342" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">get advice from your veterinarian</a> to determine which are safest and most effective for your pet's situation. Medication can help reduce the anxiety, making it easier for the pet to learn new coping skills. <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gary_Landsberg/publication/238722221_S25B_Diagnosing_and_Treating_Canine_Separation_Anxiety/links/5591540b08ae15962d8e1358.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A behavior modification plan accompanying the use of medication</a> can help manage this problem.</p><p>Separation anxiety is difficult for both you and your pet. But a few simple changes can make a huge difference as life returns to some semblance of normal.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/148301/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation"></p><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lori-m-teller-1162487" target="_blank">Lori M Teller</a>, Clinical Associate Professor, Veterinary Telehealth, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/texas-aandm-university-1672" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Texas A&M University</a>.</em></p><p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-help-dogs-and-cats-manage-separation-anxiety-when-their-humans-return-to-work-148301" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">original article</a>.</p>
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Why you should type less, talk more, according to science
Lack of communication and collaboration are the biggest struggles facing remote workers.
31 October, 2020
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
When did you last pick up the phone to a coworker or friend instead of firing off an email or text message?
<p>In these days of remote working and social distancing, a simple phone call could make us feel more connected and boost well-being, according to scientists.</p><p>Researchers in the US conducted tests in which they asked participants to reconnect with an old friend, either via phone or email, and another in which participants were asked personal questions by a stranger - by video, voice or text.</p><p>Participants found that talking to someone and interacting with them helped them feel more connected. The person's voice, even without being able to see them, was important in bonding.</p>
<h3>Awkward about talking</h3><p>But the study also found people hold back from speaking to others, choosing email and texts instead, wrongly believing that a conversation could be awkward or that they could be misunderstood.</p><p>"People feel significantly more connected through voice-based media, but they have these fears about awkwardness that are pushing them towards text-based media," study co-author Amit Kumar, a McCombs School of Business assistant professor of marketing, <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200911141713.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told <em>Science Daily</em></a>.</p><p>In the experiment in which researchers asked people to phone an old friend, participants predicted the conversation would be awkward and that they would prefer to email.</p><p>In reality, people reported forming a "significantly stronger bond with their old friend on the phone versus email, and they did not feel more awkward," Kumar said.</p><p>And the call took no longer than reading and responding to an email.</p><p>"We're being asked to maintain physical distance, but we still need these social ties for our well-being - even for our health," added Kumar.</p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY0NTQzMy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MDI1NDIwMX0._Hr3exFACnyKGUBvSxHFUJlHFtiM2h5Kc3hu5GUFbIs/img.png?width=980" id="cc3bc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="553cc7bcd6da828785b997c77884862c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Before COVID-19, remote workers found communication a struggle, according to a State of Remote report from Buffer." data-width="748" data-height="525" />
Image: Buffer
<h3>COVID-19 is changing how we work</h3><p>In May, 42% of Americans aged 20-64 earning more than $20,000 were working from home full-time, according to a <a href="https://siepr.stanford.edu/research/publications/how-working-home-works-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stanford University survey</a> – compared to just 2% working full-time from home before the pandemic.</p><p>And many want to keep working from home. An Adecco survey of 8,000 workers and leaders in eight countries found <a href="https://www.adeccogroup.com/futuhreinsight/we-asked-8000-people-how-they-want-to-work-post-covid-19-here-are-5-things-they-told-us-that-will-likely-change-the-world-of-work-forever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">three out of four employees preferred more flexibility and a hybrid</a> approach to working - part at home and part at the office.</p><p>But lack of communication and collaboration - and loneliness - were reported as the biggest struggles of remote workers in <a href="https://lp.buffer.com/state-of-remote-work-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Buffer's 2020 State of Remote Work</a> survey (based on 2019 data).</p><p>The World Economic Forum's virtual<a href="https://www.weforum.org/events/the-jobs-reset-summit-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Jobs Reset Summit</a> is discussing the creation of new jobs and new standards in digital, on-site and hybrid workplaces, as well as the safety nets needed for the employees of the future.</p><p>As working from home continues, encouraging employees to adopt good habits in connecting and communicating in person with others could improve both well-being and productivity.</p><p>Reprinted with permission of the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Economic Forum</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/mental-health-remote-working-conversations-virtual/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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7 ways young people are making a difference in mental health
From AI to climate anxiety, youth are speaking up about mental health.
10 October, 2020
Photo by NONRESIDENT on Unsplash
The field of mental health has a lot to gain from young people as we think about the Great Reset, and how to build a better, kinder and fairer world.
<p> In keeping with the theme for <a href="https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/world-mental-health-day-2020" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">World Mental Health Day</a> on 10 October – 'Move for Mental Health – Time to Invest' –young people around the world are making investments to strengthen mental health systems and services, and to curb the stigma against mental illness. Here are seven of them.</p><p><strong>1. Lived experiences: </strong>Advocates and activists that have lived experience of mental illness or of caring for people living with mental illness are talking about their mental health journey and best practices. <a href="https://www.gmhpn.org/" target="_blank">Carers of people living with mental ill health are advising health systems on areas of improvement</a>. The perspectives of service end users are important as they guide treatment outcomes that are sustainable. Measuring health outcomes has been a challenge for the field of mental health; today's youth are vocal about their lived experience, and this is driving a dialogue around key ingredients for mental health and wellness.</p><p><strong>2. Workplace mental health: </strong>The open and sharing nature of young people has continued in work spaces. Young people are not afraid to share their lived experiences with mental illness with their colleagues, <a href="https://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/article-details/young-people-most-vulnerable-to-poor-mental-health-at-work" target="_blank">while many are openly creating a space and changing the landscape of workplace mental health</a>. Youth today do not feel the need to keep up appearances and wish to have a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellevate/2020/07/23/millennials-want-a-healthy-work-life-balance-heres-what-bosses-can-do/#537dc17f7614" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">linear work–life balance</a>. As organizations grow, and hire more young employees, there are <a href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/supporting_young_people.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">several guides and policies</a> that can help companies sustain their employees' wellbeing.</p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>3. Climate anxiety and its effect on wellbeing:</strong> Climate change is causing a widespread panic; <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/145305/green-space-is-good-for-mental-health#:~:text=It%20can%20encourage%20exercise%2C%20provide,respite%20for%20over%2Dstimulated%20minds." target="_blank">a majority of young people are concerned about the erratic weather patterns and feel helpless about it</a>. Young people are <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(20)30081-4/fulltext" target="_blank">dealing with eco-anxiety</a> caused by the disruptive environmental risks, but most healthcare providers around the world are not equipped to deal with mental health issues as a result of climate change. Around half of the world's population today i<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/median-age?tab=chart&time=1950..2100&country=~OWID_WRL" target="_blank">s aged 30 or under</a>, and although decades of advocating for climate change has mostly fallen on deaf years, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/21/magazine/teenage-activist-climate-change.html" target="_blank">young people have been at the forefront on climate action</a>. As a result, they <a href="https://medium.com/@thalesetd/the-role-of-young-people-in-the-fight-against-climate-change-aadf0d06b496" target="_blank">have found a seat at most tables</a> to discuss solutions and the direct effects that environmental issues will have on their generation.4. Implementation research: Young people are innovating functional mental health services built around integrated implementation and tailored to their culture and experiences. They are cognizant of the scientific field, government health systems and promoting mental healthcare solutions, and are defying traditional approaches to service delivery. World leaders need to give young people the opportunity to scale up and bring about mass change. As <a href="https://www.waves-for-change.org/" target="_blank">Waves for Change</a> co-founder Apish Tshetsha puts it: "Our youth are powerful. We know the solutions to the problems we face. We just need the training and support to face and overcome them."</p><p><strong>5. Showing leadership in mental health:</strong> Victor Ugo, senior campaign officer at United for Global Mental Health and founder of Africa's largest youth-led mental health organization, <a href="https://linktr.ee/MentallyAware" target="_blank">Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative</a>, led the successful advocacy for the ban of a pesticide in Nigeria that is one of the <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__medium.com_-40nigeriahealthwatch_nigerian-2Dyouth-2Dsuicides-2Da-2Dcall-2Dfor-2Dholistic-2Dreforms-2D18316b651c6d&d=DwMFaQ&c=VWART3hH1Kkv_uOe9JqhCg&r=1E35bRBUvnt-VrMhsHz114YAoc73ss8ng0O8dPuvq8c&m=IHfP0Rk2MQBwVjnfGvSqP7xxSg6EFhPXZXLBtDXtGAs&s=ylS4UVCsfwsSrERHBC-YmdiDOuX5Yx9Wmky4qb5ff2k&e=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">leading contributing factors to suicide in the country.</a> Young people have practical solutions to the current mental health crisis as, <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/how-to-change-the-global-mental-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">was echoed at the youth mental health panel in Davos</a> earlier this year. Elisha London, a <a href="https://www.weforum.org/communities/young-global-leaders" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Young Global Leader</a>, was campaign director for the Heads Together campaign, spearheaded by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, while Prince Harry is now founder and CEO of <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unitedgmh.org_about-2Dus&d=DwMFaQ&c=VWART3hH1Kkv_uOe9JqhCg&r=1E35bRBUvnt-VrMhsHz114YAoc73ss8ng0O8dPuvq8c&m=IHfP0Rk2MQBwVjnfGvSqP7xxSg6EFhPXZXLBtDXtGAs&s=boy_rW7PKzieDBsUFBahFR1FqwgxWIZLEZbJi4ATSz0&e=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">United for Global Mental Health</a>. The goal of thee organizations is to promote the importance of mental health wellbeing and they are the driving forces behind campaigns such as The Speak Your Mind campaign, a nationally driven globally united campaign now in 19 countries, and #MoveforMentalHealth, a campaign supported by <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.who.int_campaigns_world-2Dmental-2Dhealth-2Dday_world-2Dmental-2Dhealth-2Dday-2D2020&d=DwMFaQ&c=VWART3hH1Kkv_uOe9JqhCg&r=1E35bRBUvnt-VrMhsHz114YAoc73ss8ng0O8dPuvq8c&m=IHfP0Rk2MQBwVjnfGvSqP7xxSg6EFhPXZXLBtDXtGAs&s=jXAYdqKpo6nkqaDqKUUSJX7wbS4hmwHCSchV1gRLqUs&e=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WHO</a>, The World Federation of Mental Health, Global Shapers and Young Global Leaders, for World Mental Health Day.</p>
<p><strong>6. AI and digital mental health:</strong> Young people are innovating mental health services and bridging mental health treatment gaps through the use of digital applications. <a href="https://oyh.org.au/" target="_blank">Orygen</a> and the World Economic Forum collaborated on a global youth consultation to design an advocacy toolkit for encouraging support for youth mental health. The toolkit consultations brought attention to the fact that young people do appreciate digital health services, especially during current times, but do not want to forego in-person support. Various AI platforms are being developed by young people to promote mental wellbeing, such as <a href="https://www.inuka.io/" target="_blank">Inuka</a>, a digital coaching solution that helps care for the wellbeing of an organization's employees</p><p><strong>7. Social media:</strong> Today, <a href="https://backlinko.com/social-media-users" target="_blank">nearly 4 billion people use social media</a> in their daily or working lives. Celebrities and influencers use social media to promote their brand and work, often at a psychological cost to their followers. Some research has found that <a href="https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/view/impact-social-media-mental-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">63% of social media users face psychological distress</a>, including depression and anxiety issues. As social media has become a digital channel to learn and engage from others, young people are leveraging these platforms to call out the very tool that amplifies their voice. Millennials, who were the first users of social media, are now speaking out about the damaging effects social media can have on mental health. The very celebrities and influencers that were promoting their lifestyle are using their platforms to share their own experiences with mental health.</p><p>Young people have the potential to drive solutions that are sustainable and applicable for mental health investment. World leaders need to invest in mental health – and the key stakeholders to drive those investments are youth. By calling on a uniform dialogue for mental health illness, they can offer insights on the need for affordable, accessible services in primary health care.</p><p>Reprinted with permission of the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Economic Forum</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/7-ways-young-people-making-a-difference-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">original article</a>.</p>
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Personal finance: How to save, spend, and think rationally about money
Finances can be a stressor, regardless of tax bracket. Here are tips for making better money decisions.
23 September, 2020
- Whether you have a lot of money or a lot of debt, it matters how you handle your personal finances. A crucial step when it comes to saving is to reassess your relationship with money and to learn to adopt a broader, more logical point of view.
- In this video, social innovator and activist Vicki Robin, psychologist Daniel Kahneman, Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton, and author Bruce Feiler offer advice on achieving financial independence, learning to control your emotions, spending smarter, and teaching children about money.
- It all starts with education and understanding. The more you know about how money works, the better you will be at avoiding mistakes and the easier it will be to take control of your financial circumstances.
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7 steps to build a mentally healthy workplace
Six in 10 people say poor mental health impacts their concentration at work.
06 September, 2020
Photo by Guilherme Cunha on Unsplash
Good mental health enables people to realize their full potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their communities.
<p> However the growing burden of mental illness is staggering. At a global level, one-in-four people will likely experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">over 300 million people are estimated to suffer from depression</a>, equivalent to 4.4% of the world's population, and 800,000 people take their own lives each year.</p><p>The number of people living with depression increased by more than 18% between 2005 and 2015. <a href="http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/89966/1/9789241506021_eng.pdf?ua=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Taken together, mental, neurological and substance use disorders exact a high toll, </a>accounting for <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/action/showFullTextImages?pii=S2215-0366%2815%2900505-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">13% of the total global burden of disease</a> (as measured in DALYs, or disability-adjusted life-years). More than <a href="http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/254610/1/WHO-MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf?ua=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">80% of this disease</a> burden is among people living in low- and middle-income countries.</p><p>The economic consequences of poor mental health are equally significant. A <a href="http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Harvard_HE_GlobalEconomicBurdenNonCommunicableDiseases_2011.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">World Economic Forum/Harvard School of Public Health study</a> estimated that the cumulative global impact of mental disorders in terms of lost economic output will amount to $16.3 trillion between 2011 and 2030. In <a href="http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_EconomicNonCommunicableDiseasesIndia_Report_2014.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">India, mental illness is estimated to cost $1.03 trillion</a> (22% of economic output) between 2012-2030. For the same period, China is estimated to lose <a href="http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_EconomicNonCommunicableDiseasesIndia_Report_2014.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$4.5 trillion</a> to mental illness. These estimates illustrate the urgency that is needed to tackle mental illness.</p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzY3MDQwNi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2ODc3MTg5OH0.4bgCfX4IOPTdgUjH7K11BKqUOMRyvZdyQCk2j4_tdaU/img.png?width=980" id="5922e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8319a1d36f793460526a6e742b914d91" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Distribution of years lived with disability at the global level in 2012" data-width="468" data-height="383" />
Image: WHO (2014) – Global Health Estimates
<h2>The toll of lost productivity</h2><p>Untreated mental disorders (in employees or their family members) result in diminished productivity at work, reduced rates of labour participation, foregone tax based income, increase in workplace accidents, higher turnover of staff and increased welfare payments. Six in 10 people say poor mental health impacts their concentration at work and estimates indicate that nearly <a href="https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/articles/workplace-mental-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">70 million work days</a> are lost each year in the UK because of poor mental health.</p><p>It is also increasingly evident the negative role that stigma plays by decreasing the chances of people seeking proper diagnosis and treatment. For example, according to a <a href="http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/promotion/mental/index-eng.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2008 survey in Canada</a>, just 50% of Canadians would tell friends or co-workers that they have a family member with a mental illness, compared to 72% who would discuss a diagnosis of cancer and 68% who would talk about a family member having diabetes.</p><p>The good news is that evidence is showing that treating anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions is an affordable and cost effective way to promote wellbeing and prosperity.</p><p>Just $1 of investment in treatment for depression and anxiety leads to a return of $4 in better health and ability to work. This is good for individuals, families, communities, economies and societies at large.</p><p>Employers can become agents of change. The risk factors for stress in the workplace can be modified, and an organizational climate that promotes wellbeing and creativity can be developed by targeting workplace policies as well as the needs of individual employees. Similarly, effective treatments exist for common mental disorders, and an employer can facilitate access to care to those who may need it.</p><h2>What can employers do?</h2><p>Mental health experts from across the world of business, civil society and academia were brought together by the World Economic Forum as part of the Global Agenda Council on Mental Health to develop a <a href="https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/articles/global-agenda-council-mental-health-seven-actions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">practical toolkit to promote a mentally healthy organization</a>. This toolkit aimed to support individuals – no matter where they sit in an organization – to develop and build a case for tackling mental illness in the workplace. Seven key actions can lead to mentally healthier workplaces:</p><p><strong>1. Be aware of the workplace environment </strong>and how it can be adapted to promote better mental health for you, your colleagues and the organization. Every work place is unique. It's important that before starting you source the necessary information about where you work, to determine what policies will be best suited to your company.</p><p><strong>2. Learn from the motivations of organizational leaders and employees who have taken action.</strong> There is typically no single motivation but, rather, several motivations working in combination, including: protecting the mental health and wellbeing of employees; doing the "right thing" for the employees; benefits in employee engagement and reputation and managing costs and liabilities.</p><p><strong>3. Don't reinvent the wheel. </strong>Be aware of other companies who have taken action, and how. Around the world companies and organizations are already putting mental health policies into place. The toolkit includes case studies from Bank of England, Bell Canada, BHP Billiton, British Telecom Group, Kind & Wood & Mallesons, among others.</p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>4. Understand the opportunities and needs of you and your colleagues</strong>, in helping to develop better policies for workplace mental health. Every organization is different, and will require a unique set of policies to best deal with the needs of its staff. It's therefore important to identify what these needs are, and how a workplace mental health programme could begin to address these.</p><p><strong>5. Take practical steps to help your organization.</strong> Workplace strategies to protect, promote, and address mental health are commonly delivered by building internal and external partnerships. The successful delivery of any mental health initiative relies on collaboration. Employees can seek educational materials, leverage local training programmes, either use or promote with human resources the use of the adequate diagnostic tools and move forward with the development, implementation and evaluation of workplace wellbeing strategies.</p><p><strong>6. Find out where to go if you or a colleague needs help.</strong> Getting help for a mental health problem can be a personal and emotional challenge for some people. The important thing is not to be afraid of asking for support, or of being there for colleagues that may need support.</p><p><strong>7. Get started. </strong>As Dr Brock Chisholm, the first Director-General of the World Health Organization and a psychiatrist that shepherded the notion that mental and physical health were intimately linked, famously said: "<a target="_blank">without mental health there can be no true physical health</a>".</p><p>Reprinted with permission of the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Economic Forum</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/04/7-steps-for-a-mentally-healthy-workplace/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">original article</a>.</p>
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