As an adviser, it’s not unusual to find yourself dealing with clients who are under high levels of stress – particularly at claim time. Along with financial advice, you can also find yourself being asked to play the roles of friend, confidante and emotional support system.
Professional separation is a sound concept, but dealing with people who are struggling to cope can be stressful even for the most professional of advisers. So it’s critical to have mechanisms in place to protect your own mental health.
With Mental Health week just gone, and Movember focusing on men’s health this month, here are five tips to ensure you maintain the mental health you need to offer the right support for your clients.
- Recognise that a healthy mind needs the same care as a healthy body. Many people still think mental health is different to physical health, or something to be embarrassed about. But most mental health issues can be resolved quickly if you’re open about them and ask for help when you need it. You wouldn’t think twice about seeing a doctor if you had a broken leg, so why not look after your mental health with the same approach?
- Promote a mentally healthy workplace. Chances are you spend more time with your staff than with your friends and family. So promoting an open workplace where they can ask for help if they’re struggling can make a huge difference. Keep an eye out – if someone doesn’t seem themselves, don’t be afraid to talk to them. Simply asking “are you ok?” may be the opening they need. Business owners and managers should make it clear that mental illness will be treated in the same way as a physical illness with support offered when they need it.
- Recognise the warning signs. There is no single sign that someone may be suffering from a mental health issue but changes in personality or behaviour are a good place to start. Do you have a colleague who has suddenly started turning up late or finding it difficult to meet deadlines? Is someone you know more emotional and easily upset or angered than usual? Do they seem to be avoiding social situations such as work meetings? These are just some of the signs that someone may be suffering from anxiety or depression. You don’t need to diagnose the condition, but if you suspect that someone might be having problems, talk to them and suggest they speak to their GP or another professional.
- Adopt and use suitable coping mechanisms. Find a way to switch off and practice it – particularly in times of stress. Meditations, yoga, venting with a trusted friend or helping others are all good options, but you need to find what works for you. Look for something that takes the focus off yourself and your work, and gives your mind some “time out” to recover. Routines like shutting off your work emails at a particular time each night can also help.
- Self-check. Take a moment, particularly when you’re stressed, to step back and ask yourself how you’re doing. If you aren’t functioning as well as normal, especially if this has been going on for two weeks or more, seek outside help.
Craig Parker is the general manager of Affinia. He has over 20 years’ of experience in both retail and institutional banking, with a strong focus on strategic planning and continual innovation.
