Mental Health at Work is an important topic for many people. Whether you’re experiencing Mental Health issues yourself, looking out for someone else who is, or
you’re just curious to find out more, the links on this page have been compiled to point you in the right direction.

A spotlight on: Stress

Stress is a natural part of life, but when it becomes a constant companion in the workplace, stress can take a serious toll on both your professional and personal wellbeing.

Stress can stem from tight deadlines, heavy workloads, workplace conflicts, or job insecurity.

While some stress can be motivating, prolonged or excessive stress can have negative consequences on your health, productivity, and overall job satisfaction.

The Effects of Workplace Stress

Workplace stress doesn’t just affect your mood. It has real and measurable impacts on your physical and mental health; some of the most common effects include:

Decreased Productivity

When stress levels rise, concentration and efficiency often decline. Chronic stress can also lead to procrastination or burnout, causing further dips in performance.

Symptons include:

Difficulty focusing
Struggling to make decisions
Missing deadlines
Procrastination
Underperformance

Physical Health Issues

Stress triggers the body’s “fight or flight” response, releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, this can even lead to an increased risk of heart disease.

Symptoms:

Headaches
Muscle tension
Digestive issues
High blood pressure

Mental Health Challenges

Persistent stress can contribute to anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion.

Symptoms:

Feeling overwhelmed
Irritability
Feeling disconnected from people around you

Strained Workplace Relationships

When under stress, emotions can run high, making conflicts with coworkers or supervisors more likely. A tense work environment can create misunderstandings, reduced morale, and lower levels of teamwork.

Symptoms:

Avoidance of team mates
Conflicts with coworkers
Feeling highly emotional

Managing and Reducing Workplace Stress

The good news is that workplace stress can be managed. Here are some ideas that could help you to feel better:

Prioritise and organise your workload by breaking tasks into manageable steps and setting realistic deadlines.

Sometimes, stress can be alleviated by redistributing tasks or adjusting deadlines – talk to your manager if you’re struggling to cope.

Make sure to take regular breaks (AWAY from your desk!)

Try mindfulness sessions, deep breathing exercises and meditation to calm your nervous system and improve focus.

 Avoid checking emails outside of working hours and make time for fun stuff or relaxation.

Speaking with your manager, a mentor, HR representative, or professional counsellor to discuss ways to improve things that cause you issues.

Creating a Healthier Work Environment

Employers can reduce workplace stress by maintaining a positive culture, recognising employees, and offering flexibility.

Prioritising wellbeing boosts productivity, lowers absenteeism, and increases job satisfaction.

Stress is unavoidable but manageable: Recognising signs early and using healthy coping strategies helps maintain balance.

Get more helpful resources here:

Ease the pressures of finding a new role

The one sure-fire route to poor mental health at work? Not having a job in the first place!

We would love to assist you in finding your next role. By allowing us to help you, you’ll benefit from being the first to find out about new local vacancies, having someone to talk to during the application process, and an insight into the company you’re applying for.

View our vacancies.
View our advice pages.

Other resources:

Below are a collection of resources that we think you will find useful.

Are you…

A business looking to work on their Mental Health Campaign?

We’d love to work together to raise awareness and donate to good causes. Contact our Marketing Manager, Emma Coleman to discuss; emma.coleman@essentialrecruitment.co.uk

Promoting/looking for donations towards a Mental Health related charity?

We have an annual charity pot which we donate to different charities each year from. Find out more about our Charity Donation scheme