Are Men Getting More Anxious At Work?

For thousands of years men were hunted by sabretooth tigers and faced the harsh conditions of a nomadic lifestyle, so it seems strange that with all the luxury and apparent safety of modern living anxiety is one of the fastest growing mental health problems amongst men. We tend to focus on depression as the big cause in psychological ill health, but the truth is depression often starts as unchecked anxiety and they are in fact so closely linked that they regularly form a dual diagnosis. More than 3 million people are affected by anxiety disorders every year in the UK, and it is unlikely that these figures accurately represent the scale of male anxiety. As a group, men, are historically poor at self-reporting mental health issues. They are more likely to self-medicate with alcohol or substance abuse rather than talk to a trained professional. What is causing male anxiety? Psychologists often discuss the complex pressures on modern man, that now he has more family and social obligations. Men are expected to be emotionally engaged fathers, husbands and brothers, even if their upbringing or cultural experiences didn’t help develop the psychological tools for this. These growing expectations exist alongside ingrained and old-fashioned ideas of men as the stable breadwinner and protector, someone who is stoic and self-reliant. These traditional ideas of masculinity leave little space for men to ask for help. The Turner-winning artist Grayson Perry, who works and writes extensively on the themes of masculinity and gender refers to this problem as “…the straight jacket of emotional self-sufficiency”. Interestingly anxiety disorders in men are often diagnosed in A&E when men present with heart attacks, only to find out that the tight chest is the result of acute panic. In a survey by Men’s Health Forum, 34% of men said they felt continuously stressed out or under pressure, but socially there are few environments in which men can talk openly about their feelings. A 2017 poll from the Priory revealed that 40% of men said it would take thoughts of suicide or self-harm to compel them to seek professional advice. Whereas women in developed countries tend to have a 20-40% higher reporting rate for mental health disorders and overall a significantly lower risk of suicide. What can employers do to create less anxious work environments? A recent survey by MIND has revealed that work is often cited as one of the biggest causes of anxiety, especially for men. We all spend a great deal of our lives at work so unsurprisingly our status and self-esteem is affected by how fulfilling and nurturing our work environment is. Instead of focusing on why men don’t men talk about their mental health, employers are now building a space where it is safe to do so. In 2016 Barclays kicked off their ‘This Is Me’ Campaign in which employees with personal experience of managing their mental health or disability, came forward to share their stories and spoke openly in videos and online posts about their mental health past and current maintenance. Their aim was simple, to remove the taboo around mental ill health and fundamentally change the company culture. It was hoped that if anyone were to face a mental health issue, they would feel comfortable confiding in their line manager or HR representative. “There is a lot of support, you can just be unaware of what is available for you to tap into” Sally Clark, Chief Internal Auditor. (This is me campaign) Since ‘This is me’ many large organisations have followed suit and put mental health and wellbeing front and centre. Below are some ideas that have been proven to help create a less anxious workspace.

• Training for line managers so that they can offer support;

Sometimes line managers do not even notice that an employee is suffering from a mental health problem; they put any difficult behaviour down to character flaws rather than seeing it as a symptom of a more serious issue. Training line managers to spot the symptoms of mental ill health and giving them the confidence to intervene sensitively, can prevent an employees condition from becoming chronic. Practical Interventions can be as simple as;

• Arranging for some compassionate leave with support from HR.
• Arranging for a staff member to work from home at least one day a week.
• Redistributing workload if they have become overloaded.
• Changing some of the work that the person does or the people that they interact with.
• Teamwork feels good and builds morale

Create opportunities for teamwork Neuroscientists have proven that co-operating with others activates the brain’s reward network. Teamwork actually feels good. Even if the nature of your business does not lend itself to huge collaborative efforts, it is vital that the team involved are connected with each other. If there is a tendency to work in isolation introduce structures and habits that change this. As social animals, we perform better and are happier when we work in collaborative environments.

• Understand what creates a supportive atmosphere for you and your team;

For some organisations, a team lunch, away day or regularly diarised 1-1 catch ups are effective. But interestingly for male mental health, research shows that activity is sometimes better than talking, this is called active modes of therapy. Some find it easier to discuss delicate issues if they are distracted or engrossed in a task; something where they are problem-solving or collaborating. (Remember teamwork feels good,) So now and again when husband or friend is accused of avoiding a problem by heading off into the distance golf clubs in hand, they may actually be engaging in a well-honed strategy of distraction and resilience. With this knowledge businesses who provide funding for a five-a-side football team or discounted gym memberships are instigating effective preventative wellbeing strategies.

• Highlight the importance of a work-life balance;

Getting staff to leave on time, take their lunch break and use up their holidays consistently throughout the year gives them the opportunity to relax and recharge, helping maintain high levels of wellbeing. It is important that senior management set a good example and do the same. The Bank Workers Charity exists to support the health and wellbeing of current and former bank workers and their families. If you are feeling anxious and would like to find better ways to unwind take a few minutes to read our How to learn to relax guide.