Putting mental and physical health on an equal footing

How can we start talking about experiencing poor mental health more akin to how we talk about physical health, and how can employers respond?

This excellent question was posed during our wellbeing panel at the Law Society of Scotland’s annual conference in October 2022. It’s a worthy goal for us to put mental health and physical health on the same footing, where each can be discussed and supported on the same terms. Reflecting on how we treat physical injury differently to mental struggles is a good starting point to consider what has to change. Sarah Prentice – a member of the Lawscot Wellbeing Steering Group and a Solicitor at the Scottish Social Services Council – has considered how she felt talking about a broken bone compared to sharing information about her mental health.

On my way into our office party at the end of last year, I slipped on the ice on the pavement and broke my wrist in two places. This was the first time that I have ever broken a bone and needed emergency medical treatment, despite having ridden horses since I was 4 years old!

I was driven by my manager to A&E and she stayed with me until I was discharged at 2am. All my work colleagues were concerned about me and sent me messages of support all night. Once I was x-rayed and plastered, I was quick to announce my injury on social media. This resulted in people offering to help me in any way they could. I accepted lifts, help with housework and even help to wash my hair.

I never questioned if I should publicise my injury or ask for help. I did not worry what people might think of me having broken my wrist. Despite being a strong advocate for mental wellbeing and being open about my own mental health diagnoses, if I am honest, I would not openly proclaim a decline in my mental health and would not so readily ask for help.

It is estimated that two out of three people will suffer some sort of mental health illness during their lives. The data from one study of fractures in England (I couldn’t find any statistics for Scotland or the UK) suggests mental health illness is more common than a broken bone. So why is it that even I, someone who promotes mental wellbeing and non-discrimination, would not be as open about a mental health decline as a broken wrist?

I have previously requested time off work, telling my then employer that I had a migraine, stomach-ache, or some sort of physical ailment when in fact I had been either burnt out or was suffering from a decline in my mental health. It was just easier to say that than explain what was really happening.

I have developed good insight into my own conditions and have managed to sustain good mental health for years. It rarely impacts my work but when it does I still find it difficult to tell my employer. I worry that they might over-react, instruct unnecessary occupational health reports, or think less of me and my productivity.

Whilst significant progress has been made destigmatising poor mental health, and employers appear to commit to promoting wellbeing at work, I still feel that it is not something that employees speak openly about when it is happening to them, including me.

To ensure my mental wellbeing at work, I have a flexible working pattern and even take an extended break once a week to be able to spend time outside in the daylight in winter. Flexible working is now widely available, particularly post-pandemic and generally I get the impression that employees now prioritise a good work-life balance. I was surprised to learn that many of my colleagues had not explored these options with their manager, assuming that it would not be allowed. I explained to them that all I did was ask.

We need to have the courage to openly talk about what works well for us, as we spend most of our waking lives at work. Everyone benefits when the workforce has good morale, high productivity and sick leave is low. We all have a duty to practise self-care and reach out when times get tough. Communication is key, people need to know what is going on and what they can do to help. At least my broken wrist has reminded me that I too should treat any illness, whether physical or mental, the same in terms of reaching out.