Category: News
According to Suffolk Mind research, less than a fifth of full-time workers in are getting enough sleep.
Just 16.9% of 7,317 full-time workers surveyed said they are getting a healthy amount of sleep, which is one of every person’s 12 physical and emotional needs.
The figure was revealed as part of Suffolk Mind’s Emotional Needs Audit, an ongoing survey into the county’s mental health
Common barriers workers reported to sleep included their work situation (42.18% of respondents) and their workload (28.19%). The most prevalent was their overall physical and mental health at 54.1%.
Ezra Hewing, Head of Mental Health Education at Suffolk Mind, said the findings showcase the need for better mental health support in the workplace.
Ezra said: “All of us know the feeling of coming into work after a bad night’s sleep.
“Sleep is incredibly important to both our physical and mental health – so coming into the office when your mind and body haven’t had ample time to rest can be detrimental both to an employee’s wellbeing and a business’ overall output.
“There are so many factors behind the things that get in the way of a healthy sleep, but a great place to start – as highlighted in the barriers respondents have reported – is in the office.”
The Mental Health Toolkit offers a suite of training aimed at supporting workplace wellbeing
The Supporting Mental Health course helps build a healthy relationship between team members, directly influencing productivity, motivation and engagement while equipping people with the tools to better understand and manage their mental health.
Ezra added: “It is important change begins at the top to help build a more supportive management structure that’s in touch with the needs of its workforce.
“While workplace training isn’t going to help improve sleep overnight, it is a great first step in relieving the stresses staff may feel while helping them better understand their mental health.”
We are thrilled to share that our founder, Jon Neal, has been named Director of the Year at the recent East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards.
Jon, who has been instrumental in the growth of our parent company Suffolk Mind since his arrival in 2016, was shortlisted in recognition of his impact on the county’s mental health picture and his support for staff and volunteers.
Judges commended his active approach to leadership, excellent fundraising efforts and the great strides he has made to make Suffolk the best place in the world to talk about and take care of mental health.
Speaking following his win, Jon was full of praise for both the Suffolk Mind and The Mental Health Toolkit teams
He said: “It is a huge honour to win such a prestigious award, which wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible team surrounding me at The Mental Health Toolkit who make me so proud every single day.
“Together we are devoted to our mission of making Suffolk the best place in the world to talk about and take care of mental health, and continue to make great strides every day through our community outreach and training services.”
Achievements throughout Jon’s tenure so far include the launch of The Mental Health Toolkit and overseeing a fundraising revolution to safely navigate the coronavirus pandemic.
Last year we delivered 211 workshops to 54 businesses, totalling more than 900 hours of training.
That work saw us gain numerous positive reviews from businesses across the country, from law firms to councils and digital marketing agencies.
Reflecting on an incredible year, Jon also thanked his fellow finalists – alongside all those behind the scenes to host the ceremony.
He said: “My thanks go to the judges, organisers, and the sponsors of the awards, which achieve so much in raising the profile of some outstanding employers in Suffolk.
“Most of all, my thanks go to the awesome team of staff and volunteers at The Mental Health Toolkit.”
More information on the scale of our work can be found in Suffolk Mind’s 2023 Impact Report.