0115 704 3969
22nd May 2023
You’re having a usual day, when suddenly you get this feeling of worry and stress take over you. It becomes quite physical and all encompassing. Your brain becomes foggy. Your stomach starts to churn. And everything sort of begins to spin. Maybe you also start sweating, and your heart feels like it's beating out of your chest. This feeling doesn’t just dissipate on its own, leaving you wondering what's wrong.
Did you find yourself relating to this feeling?
These are just some of the ways people have described anxiety.
The recent global challenges have created an environment of uncertainty which has resulted in our mental well-being constantly being put to the test. A survey by Workplace Health Report revealed that 60% of employees are experiencing anxiety, however, only 1 in 10 employees seek support for their mental health. Another 2019 survey by EqualEngineers titled Masculinity in Engineering reported that more than a third of engineers in the UK described their mental health as only “fair” or “poor”.
While these statistics are extremely alarming, they tend to be absorbed as just numbers and the stories behind them don’t come to reality.
As a profession, engineering has always had an emphasis on productivity, hard work, and resiliency. However, as more awareness about men's mental health has rightfully been coming to the forefront, the male-dominated industry has also directed its attention towards the cause and takes active efforts to look after the well-being of engineers.
PJS is no different. And no, we don’t consider “Man Up” as the answer. Despite the awareness employees across the world have of mental health today, there is a lingering stigma around speaking about mental health issues with which comes the fear of how one will be perceived after voicing their concerns.
Managing director at PJS, Paul Smith, says, “We believe that mental health is something that everyone should be talking about throughout the year.
"Our goal is to actively explore new ways to lower barriers, reduce stigma, and create the best possible environment for all.”
Our valued colleagues are the heart of our company, which is why we make sure they feel cared for. We provide a safe culture for our team to speak openly and do everything we possibly can to support them through any difficulties. We are all aware that mental health problems can have a lot of different symptoms and signs, or sometimes none at all. Good relationships are important for mental wellbeing which is why actively having a chat and checking up on the team is vital to us. We emphasise on connecting with each other in a way that goes beyond just a work relationship.
This practice extends into social events such as work parties multiple times a year, work lunches on us, amongst many other initiatives to help everyone at PJS unwind and nurture meaningful relationships. Additionally, we aim to augment our support beyond just working hours – PJS regularly sponsors weekend activities like golf, football, and such for our team.
PJS has been proud to support Mental Health Foundation during the Mental Health Awareness Week between the 15th to 21st May.
In recognition of the week, we participated in the Wear It Green day on Thursday 18th May and encouraged everyone to come into work wearing something green – whether it was a piece of clothing, an accessory, or a green ribbon badge to show support. We could not support a cause without a meal together, so we treated everyone to pizzas for lunch as well as sweets throughout the week (it's surprising how much we love our sweets in the office!)
We also kept a donations jar in our café alongside the sweets and matched the amount to donate to the Mental Health Foundation; our small contribution towards the big important cause.
Mental health matters regardless of the week. We pride ourselves on our work, but also on having a relaxed work environment. We will continue our support to our team all year and ensure their well-being.
While feeling anxious may not be completely avoidable, we encourage everyone to indulge in anxiety management strategies within the workplace.
There are plenty of safe and non-drug remedies that will help you get through anxiety, from mind-body techniques to calming teas. Bear in mind, some start working right away while others may help lessen anxiety over a period of time.
