COMMENT: Today, 10 October, is World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme is “Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority”. For me, today provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
As sponsor for mental health at Montagu Evans, and as someone who has often daily struggles with their own mental health, I find the simplest way in which I can try to normalise mental health is through honesty and storytelling.
My story of grief, burnout and breakdowns was first covered by EG, almost three years ago. The response was overwhelmingly positive. I still remember going for a walk on Southend seafront with my phone buzzing with messages and missed calls of support after its publication.
The following three years have been extraordinary for many people, throwing up professional and personal challenges that few generations could possibly have experienced.
So, in a post-Covid world, I wanted to reflect on what I’ve learnt.
- STIGMA: There is still a stigma about mental health, both in general life and specifically in real estate. It may have lessened but there is still the awkward silence, the sense I am being judged and the feeling I’m not as “strong” as others on occasions when I talk about my mental health. Real estate firms are perhaps crawling the walk but they certainly aren’t walking it.
- GOING TO THE GYM: You have to take your mental health to the gym as often as you take physical health. You can’t run a marathon after going for one jog, and you can’t improve your mental health if you don’t practise the good habits. I don’t do enough of supporting both my physical and mental health and I feel it.
- REPEATING MISTAKES: Just because I burnt out once, and then spoke about all the lessons I learnt, it doesn’t mean I won’t burn out again – because I did. Remember, you don’t always burn out in a negative environment. I’m a sucker for a new challenge, getting stuck in and enjoying what I do – and then burning out from reaching for the goal too quickly.
- BE KIND: Your mental health doesn’t define you and may not be the version of you that other people see. We can often be harder on ourselves than others. Be kind to yourself.
- SUNNY SIDE UP: It would be glib and irresponsible to suggest that, for anyone reading this who is struggling with their mental wellbeing, there is a magic wand that can make it go away. There isn’t. But life can get better, with more good days than bad, with time for laughter and fun. I know because I’ve found those days and those people who can regularly help me get to a place that I perhaps thought was unreachable. It may not be easy but it is possible – hold on to that hope if you can.
And finally, I’ll let you into a secret. I’m rubbish at most of the above: I’m rarely kind to myself, I infrequently practise what I preach and if the mental health gym had a bar, then that’s where you would probably find me.
So what am I going to do about it? Well, in the spirit of sharing, this is my list of happiness factors, activities that I know make me feel better.
- I exercise regularly
- I get fresh air
- I eat well
- I spend less time looking at screens
- I have a positive mindset
- I take time to breathe
- I am active
- I am organised
- I find time for me
When I feel better I am:
- A more focused and present partner and dad
- Mentally clearer
- Physically stronger
- Healthier
- More able to support others and
- Simply happier
This list will be different for everyone but there are many common factors that can help us all. I hope by putting mine here, it helps make a difference for at least one other person in our sector at the time they need it most.
Neil Worrall is partner and head of property management at Montagu Evans
