The week commencing the 27 March 2023, Port Skills and Safety hosted its third annual Mental Health in Ports Week. Across the week we posted information on supporting good workplace mental health, personal stories from our members and launching a brand new Ports Happiness Survey.
Good workplace mental health policies and practices are more important than ever, with the cost-of-living crisis, economic uncertainty and the rate of global change, many people are going to work with a lot of their minds. This can have a serious impact on the safety of all port workers as team members may be distracted or suffering from the physical impacts that poor mental health can have.
According to a recent study, men between the ages of 25 and 40 are more likely to experience mental health issues than any other age group. The study, conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, found that these men are more prone to depression, anxiety, and substance abuse than their older or younger counterparts. As well as the pressures of every-day life, societal norms often dictate that men should not show their emotions, which may prevent them from seeking help when they need it.
As this group represents a large number of port workers, the PSS Mental Health in Ports week is designed to encourage all port workers, and especially men in this high risk category, to speak out about their mental health and seek support if needed.
All PSS members are encouraged to use the resources provided across this week to ensure that all port workers are mentally and physically safe at work.
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