More people across Yorkshire and the Humber report feeling stressed at work
Over 50% of people across the region say they've felt the need to take time off due to their mental health during the pandemic
Last updated 4th Feb 2021
New figures released on Time to Talk Day (4 February) show that mental health is still taboo when it comes to taking time out. A survey of over 4,700 UK adults revealed that over half of people in Yorkshire and the Humber (51%) have felt the need to take time off work, school, or university due to a mental health problem during the pandemic, more than anywhere else in England. Worryingly, despite so many recognising a need to take time out, only 21% actually did so.
When facing a mental health problem, support from friends, family and colleagues can make all the difference. However, whilst a significant number of people have struggled with their mental health, many have simultaneously seen their support networks shrink. In Yorkshire and the Humber, over 1 in 5 (21%) said they have fewer people to talk too about problems such as mental health since the pandemic. The top reasons cited were working or studying from home means fewer opportunities to catch up; not being able to talk to their household about problems; and their support network was too busy to listen to them.
The findings are being released on Time to Talk Day, a nation-wide push to get people talking more openly about mental health. Time to Talk Day was established eight years ago by Time to Change, the mental health anti-stigma campaign, led by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, in recognition of the fact that people talking and sharing their experiences positively changes the attitudes of those around them.
Further results from the survey showed that, of those people who struggled with their mental health during the pandemic, a simple message of support from a colleague, friend or family member made all the difference. When people in Yorkshire and the Humber were asked how receiving a card or message made them feel, the top responses were: someone reaching out made them feel reassured they weren’t alone; they were comforted that there was someone to listen; and it made them feel loved. Time to Talk Day 2021 adopts the theme ‘The Power of Small’, which aims to showcase the big difference these seemingly small conversations or gestures can make.
Jo Loughran, Director of Time to Change, said “We know that attitudes towards those of us with mental health problems have improved in recent years and it’s important that we don’t let that slide. The last year has been hard and it’s perhaps made more people realise that we can all struggle with our mental health at times. Let’s take this opportunity to ensure that we all feel comfortable talking about it, too.
“It’s easy to think we haven’t got the power to make a change. But lots of ‘small’ conversations can add up to a big difference in tackling the stigma and discrimination too many people still experience because of their mental health. So, this Time to Talk Day, play your part - send a text, reach out, have a conversation.”