World Mental Health Day 2024 – Dr Bridget Hanley

Clinical Psychologist, Dr Bridget Hanley shares valuable advice this World Mental Health Day

The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is mental health in the workplace, highlighting the importance of creating supportive environments for employees to advocate conversation, and reducing stigma that is widely associated with mental wellbeing issues.

We caught up with Dr Hanley, Clinical Psychologist at Lead Employer, Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, on the importance of taking care of your mental wellbeing in the workplace and what signs or symptoms you should be encouraged to address with your peers.

“Mental health issues such as anxiety, stress and depression are currently the most common causes of NHS staff absence across the UK," Bridget explained.

“As a Psychologist working in the Health, Work and Wellbeing service, every day I see the need for self-care in a pressured and sometimes distressing environment. Thankfully, there are active steps we can all take to support each other in the workplace.

“I would urge all trainees to become aware of the state of their own mental health and wellbeing. This involves familiarising yourself with the signs of stress, fatigue, burnout or anxiety; starting to notice how these conditions can manifest in bodily symptoms (e.g. palpitations, butterflies in the stomach) or negative thoughts. It’s important if noticing signs to seek support. Often this can be initiated by having a conversation with your manager or supervisor. 

“Social connection with peers is a protective factor for psychological health in general and this applies to the workplace too. It’s important to foster positive relationships with colleagues by being open and respectful with them, and this helps develop levels of trust and co-operation in return.

“We all take notice if someone asks about our wellbeing, and I would encourage all to make those friendly enquiries with colleagues which take so little time but can mean so much.”

Find out more about the awareness day including helpful resources on the Mental Health Foundation website.