Mental distress

How looking after your willpower can help you reduce stress and stay productive, wherever you are working

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

The COVID pandemic led to big increases in psychological distress for many people, including symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.

Key Points: 
  • The COVID pandemic led to big increases in psychological distress for many people, including symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.
  • The negative impact on mental health has been substantial and is likely to be long-lasting, with many people experiencing psychological distress even now.
  • Our research seeks to understand how psychological distress created by the pandemic has affected how productive people are at work.

Remote work, productivity and stress

  • Our study shows the impact of psychological distress on productivity during the pandemic was even more pronounced for people who worked from home.
  • Remote workers also reported that boundaries between work and home are often blurred, with workspaces and job-related tasks intruding on home life.
  • But unfortunately, other situations can still cause stress that affects productivity at work – whether that’s a health issue, bereavement, a divorce or other major life events.
  • So, what can you do to try to cope, and even maintain your productivity at work, during such stressful situations?

Get the right support when stressed at work

  • This can include support from family, friends and colleagues, but also mental health and financial support.
  • Sufficient recovery time after a stressful event and, more generally, sleep and breaks from work can also replenish your self-regulation resources.
  • As our research shows, organisations need to support employees who work from home in particular.
  • Managers should also take individual preferences for homeworking into account, and make sure homeworkers have sufficient control over their work.


The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

New Study Published in MDPI Demonstrates Combination of Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence Reduces Hot Flashes and Improves Psychological Well-Being in Women

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 30, 2022

BOSTON, Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --The results of a clinical trial using software from XRHealth, developer and operator of virtual treatment rooms in the metaverse, published in MDPI highlights that the combination of virtual reality and artificial intelligence reduces hot flashes and improves the overall psychological well-being of women with breast and ovarian cancer. 

Key Points: 
  • Female cancer survivors often experience hot flashes that can also cause difficulty sleeping and waking up with night sweats.
  • The study consisted of forty-two women, ranging in ages 25-60 that suffered from hot flashes and were receiving chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, or estrogen blocking anticancer treatment.
  • Patients were asked to self-report and assess hot flashes, psychiatric distress, illness perception, quality of sleep, and quality of life.
  • Patients reported a significant reduction in the frequency of hot flashes, stress, psychiatric distress, sleep difficulties, and quality of life.

Australian managers experiencing greater levels of mental distress due to pandemic

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 21, 2021

b'Morneau Shepell, a leading provider of total wellbeing, mental health and digital mental health services, today released its monthly Mental Health Index\xe2\x84\xa2 report, revealing a negative mental health score among Australians for the twelfth consecutive month.

Key Points: 
  • b'Morneau Shepell, a leading provider of total wellbeing, mental health and digital mental health services, today released its monthly Mental Health Index\xe2\x84\xa2 report, revealing a negative mental health score among Australians for the twelfth consecutive month.
  • Negative scores indicate a lower level of mental health compared to the pre-2020 benchmark.\nThe March score is relatively consistent with levels in February (-10.8) and January (-10.7).
  • Strategies that address and de-stigmatise mental health, training and communication to support managers, as well as encouragement to use mental health resources are essential to the health of the workforce.\xe2\x80\x9d\nAustralian managers are experiencing greater levels of mental distress than non-managers as a result of the extraordinary changes implemented in the workplace throughout the pandemic.
  • The Mental Health Index\xe2\x84\xa2 is published monthly, beginning April 2020, and compares against benchmark data collected in 2017, 2018, 2019.

Stigmas drive UK leaders to 'self-medicate' poor mental health with alcohol and substances

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 19, 2020

LONDON, Nov. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -Two in five high-flying UK business leaders have 'self-medicated' their mental health issues with alcohol or drugs during Covid.

Key Points: 
  • LONDON, Nov. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -Two in five high-flying UK business leaders have 'self-medicated' their mental health issues with alcohol or drugs during Covid.
  • During the pandemic eight in 10 UK business leaders have experienced symptoms of mental ill-health such as fatigue, mood swings and disturbed sleep, due to financial pressures and personal concerns.
  • Poppy Jaman, CEO of the City Mental Health Alliance said:"Leading by example is crucial to breaking down the stigma attached to mental illness.
  • To support UK business leaders with their mental health and help prevent issues in the future, Bupa Global is now providing greater coverage for mental health conditions including addiction and self-inflicted injuries.

39% of American Workers are Suffering from Mental Health Issues

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 12, 2020

According to new research, 39% of American workers suffer from mental health issues, ranging from moderate mental distress to serious mental illness.

Key Points: 
  • According to new research, 39% of American workers suffer from mental health issues, ranging from moderate mental distress to serious mental illness.
  • These findings focus on behavioral health and identify how mental health and substance abuse issues are affecting workplace engagement.
  • The unstable state of our workforce and economy is undoubtedly compounding the mental health issues of Americas workers.
  • According to the research, a large majority (91%) of U.S. workers believe companies should be helping employees with mental health or substance abuse issues.

$100,000 for more mental health services for youth in the Québec City region

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 24, 2020

QUBEC CITY, Feb. 24, 2020 CNW/ - Qubec City Mayor Rgis Labeaume, and Mr. Jacques Goulet, President of Sun Life Canada, today announced the creation of a $100,000 mental health fund.

Key Points: 
  • QUBEC CITY, Feb. 24, 2020 CNW/ - Qubec City Mayor Rgis Labeaume, and Mr. Jacques Goulet, President of Sun Life Canada, today announced the creation of a $100,000 mental health fund.
  • Sun Life will invest $75,000 over three years and the City of Qubec will donate $25,000.
  • "Psychological distress among young people is a major problem in our society," said Qubec City mayor Rgis Labeaume.
  • "With this investment fund, Ville de Qubec is going a step further to help teens who are struggling.

$100,000 for more mental health services for youth in the Québec City region

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 24, 2020

QUBEC CITY, Feb. 24, 2020 CNW/ - Qubec City Mayor Rgis Labeaume, and Mr. Jacques Goulet, President of Sun Life Canada, today announced the creation of a $100,000 mental health fund.

Key Points: 
  • QUBEC CITY, Feb. 24, 2020 CNW/ - Qubec City Mayor Rgis Labeaume, and Mr. Jacques Goulet, President of Sun Life Canada, today announced the creation of a $100,000 mental health fund.
  • Sun Life will invest $75,000 over three years and the City of Qubec will donate $25,000.
  • "Psychological distress among young people is a major problem in our society," said Qubec City mayor Rgis Labeaume.
  • "With this investment fund, Ville de Qubec is going a step further to help teens who are struggling.

New Initiative to Support Graduate Student Mental Health and Wellness

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The 22-month project will create a foundation for evidence-based policies and resources to support graduate student mental health and well-being, prevent psychological distress, and address barriers to effective support and care.

Key Points: 
  • The 22-month project will create a foundation for evidence-based policies and resources to support graduate student mental health and well-being, prevent psychological distress, and address barriers to effective support and care.
  • The new initiative, Supporting Mental Health and Wellness of Graduate Students will address these and other concerns across all broad fields of graduate study.
  • In 2020, graduate deans, graduate students, mental health researchers, and other experts will convene in Washington, D.C., for a one-and-half-day workshop.
  • The final project outcome will include a report and a statement of common principles for supporting graduate student mental health.

University of Phoenix Survey Finds More Than Half of Employed US Adults Feel Companies Do Not View Mental Health as an Acceptable Reason to Take Time off Work

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 24, 2019

Our culture is slowing becoming more open to discussions about mental health, but more work must be done," said Dr. Aslinia.

Key Points: 
  • Our culture is slowing becoming more open to discussions about mental health, but more work must be done," said Dr. Aslinia.
  • "In the workplace, companies have the ability to change this narrative and talk about the importance of mental wellness.
  • Despite the stigmas that still exist, the data shows that some employees are taking care of their mental health.
  • Interestingly, 12 percent of employed U.S. adults note they have taken five or more days off in the past 12 months for mental health reasons.

Mental health issues are less likely to be seen as a disability

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Twitter:Mental health issues are less likely to be seen as a disability, yet 30% of Canadians who have taken time off because of a disability say it was for a mental illness @RBCInsurance

Key Points: 
  • Twitter:Mental health issues are less likely to be seen as a disability, yet 30% of Canadians who have taken time off because of a disability say it was for a mental illness @RBCInsurance
    Canadians still hold a bias toward viewing disabilities as being largely physical rather than mental in nature.
  • Yet, 30 per cent of Canadians who have taken time off because of a disability say it was for a mental illness.
  • In fact, almost one-third of group disability claims at RBC Insurance are related to mental health, and that number is higher if you count physical disabilities that lead to mental health concerns."
  • Despite Canadians' perception of mental illness, 30 per cent of working Canadians who have taken time off for a disability say it was because of a mental illness.