Breaking the Silence in the Office
AXA insurance is a major global investor and philanthropist in multiple health topics. The psychological wellbeing of workers is something that this company has championed, since they first commissioned The AXA Mind Health Report five years ago.
What is Mind Health?
Before focusing on the findings, a definition of the term mind health is required. Mind health rather than the more stigmatised mental health puts the emphasis on the positive objective of this study: To help break down the stigma still associated with mental illness that can prevent people from sharing how they feel or seeking medical help.
Mind Health Index and Report
The Mind Health Report delivers scientifically backed insights into mind health related topics, and is based on a survey of 17,000 adults (aged 18-75) globally. The Mind Health Index is a tool that helps assess mental wellbeing, and offers answers. This is achieved by identifying potential problems before they become serious, and indicating ways to lead a more fulfilled life.
The index contains three groups of questions which relate to either positive actions, modifiers or psychological wellbeing outcomes. The scoring system employed allows these questions to be scored, scaled and aggregated into a single Mind Health Index Score. Through this information, respondents can be divided into four categories, ranging from struggling at the bottom, through languishing and getting by to flourishing at the top.
Mind Health Index: The Irish Results Breakdown
Flourishing: 20% This represents the pinnacle of good mind health.
Getting by: 32% This describes those who may have some areas of good wellbeing but not enough to reach the state of flourishing. Those getting by may experience a dampened sense of wellbeing compared to those who are flourishing.
Languishing: 29% This represents the absence of positive wellbeing. If you are languishing you are not functioning at full capacity, you may feel unmotivated and struggle to focus. Those who are languishing are at an increased risk of developing mental illness.
Struggling: 19% The absence of wellbeing in most areas is likely to result in struggling and difficulty. Struggling is associated with emotional distress and psychosocial impairment.
Ireland has the lowest average Mind Health score, with 48 per cent of the Irish people languishing or struggling. This is quite disturbing, and it reflects the concerns of the working population who cite work-related stress and difficulty achieving work-life balance as major factors impacting on their mental health.
This is perhaps why workplace stress routinely rates in the top three sources of stress for the employed population. In fact, 78% of Irish workers report at least one impact of work-related stress in their daily lives. This includes difficulty sleeping (40%). Physical symptoms like headaches (34%) as well as increased irritability and mood swings (34%).
What can Irish Companies do?
The AXA Report indicates that sick leave for mental health reasons is on the rise, accounting for 27% of all sick leave in 2024, four points higher than in 2023. In France, for example, mind health is now the leading cause of long-term sick-leave.
People who are in need of mind health support are often unaware of their need or unwilling to seek professional help due to stigma. A lack of effective structures and support in the workplace, and especially for those living with mind health difficulties, can affect one’s ability to enjoy work and do one’s job well. This not only undermines attendance, but stops people getting a job in the first place. The World Health Organisation states that, ‘safe and healthy working environments are not only a fundamental right but are also more likely to minimize tension and conflicts at work and improve staff retention, work performance and productivity. Professor Lode Godderis, building on this fundamental right, declared that, ‘companies need to adopt a proactive approach rather than rely on reactive solutions. Most importantly, there needs to be a fundamental shift in corporate culture – one that prioritizes psychological safety and openly acknowledges mental health challenges.
What can the Individual do?
The AXA Mind Health Self-Check can help individuals understand their mind health and identify areas for potential improvement. You simply need to answer a short series of questions about your state of mind, skills, beliefs, and lifestyle to gain clear insights into your emotional health. It’s free, anonymous, confidential, available in ten languages and based on research from 200 scientific studies. So, shine a light on your mind health – it only takes five minutes. See: mindhealthselfcheck.axa.com
