Mental Health - a taboo of our time!

Mental health is still a delicate topic and managers are more comfortable discussing physical health than mental disorders, even though more than a quarter of managers have experienced mental health problems. There is also a direct correlation between mental and physical health, where a decrease in mental health increase sick leaves and decrease effectiveness and efficiency when at work. Mental illnesses are not just mental, they are physical as they amplify into physical symptoms and complications, as e.g. anxiety causes blood and breathing problems as well as chronic physical pain. Furthermore, anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental illnesses and depression is one of the highest factors in work disability. Depression also leads to physical health issues such as heart trouble, a weakened immune system, obesity and diabetes, to only mention a few. So, one thing is for sure - it is utterly important to have a well-developed support system, promote mental health treatments and create awareness in the workplace. But it is not only depression and anxiety that threatens todays senior executives. Insecurities and the feeling of not measuring up is also a common risk to the mental stability of executives. This is being described as the “Imposter Syndrome” and is a common fear amongst many CEO´s, and to overcome this it seems to be a solution to create safe environments through support groups, coaching and mental training, where executives learn that they are not alone and most importantly, they find someone they can relate to.

Remember, you are never alone!

by Ole Petter Anfinsen, Founder and Chief Executive

References and sources
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