Positively productive: Supporting employees this Mental Health Awareness Week

How can loneliness impact our daily lives?
This year's #MHAW theme of focus is #loneiness and there is no doubt that since the pandemic and the era of working from home, loneliness has affected more of us than ever before. Loneliness can have a massive impact on our physical and mental health, with human connection being so imperative to us as human beings.

According to Mind, Loneliness is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems, including low-self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.

According to Campaign to End Loneliness, Loneliness and social isolation are associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke.

In recent times, our access to the people we love, and human interaction has changed drastically. Most of us have had a major decrease in socialisation and frequency in which we see our friends, family and even colleagues.

Society is evolving fast, and more and more activities that normally include interacting with people, for instance going to the doctors and shopping are moving online. Additionally, as working remotely has become more normalised, we’ve had an even bigger decrease in human connection.

“Almost one in 14 people aged 16 or over in Great Britain say they are lonely”
Our connection to other people is fundamental to our happiness and ability to work effectively. With this in mind, we have created a guide with some helpful tips to help you combat loneliness whilst working from home.

Never feel ashamed if you feel lonely because you most definitely are not alone.