Alcohol Awareness Week 2020 will take place from 16th to 22nd of November 2020. This years theme is Alcohol and Mental Health. It is organised by Alcohol Change UK charity. They use this week for raising awareness, campaigning for change and more. It is a chance for the UK to get thinking about drinking.
The relationship between alcohol and mental health is complex. Alcohol is sometimes used by people to try and help manage symptoms of anxiety and depression, but excessive drinking is likely to make those symptoms worse. Managing your drinking and getting the right support are crucial to good mental health.
Alcohol, Mental Health and the Workplace
If we are struggling with our drinking, we may find that our work is affected. For example, we may experience tiredness and physical symptoms related to hangovers, which can make it more difficult to complete tasks at work and may put pressure on our relationships with our colleagues.
What Can I Do If I Am An Employee?
- Speak to your line manager in confidence. If you come to rely on alcohol to manage your mental health problems, that reliance can itself become a problem. You may well find that your drinking affects your working and home life – both things that can undermine your mental wellbeing. If you need support, consider speaking to your line manager in confidence – it’s likely they have already noticed a change in your behaviour.
- Seek professional help if you’re struggling. If you would prefer not to speak to your manager about the mental health problem you are experiencing, you can seek professional advice from your GP. Note that if you are considered disabled (as defined by the Equality Act) because of your mental health problem, you have specific rights in relation to getting support at work. The charity Mind has advice about this on its website.
- Find ways to manage your drinking. Making lifestyle changes could help your situation. For example, keeping a drinking diary or downloading an app to help you keep track of your alcohol consumption for a few weeks can help you understand your drinking pattern, so you can work out what you’re happy with and what you’re not. Download our free ‘Try Dry: The Dry January app’ to help you set some goals.
- Take a break from drinking. You could also consider taking an extended break from alcohol, like having a Dry January, which has been shown to help people drink more healthily year-round. As well as taking a break or cutting down on your drinking, try to establish whether you are eating properly and taking enough regular exercise outdoors, key things that can directly improve your mental health.1 What can I do if I’m an employer? At Alcohol Change UK we understand these issues and are here to help. Our workplace services are designed to help employers and employees. We can deliver in-house training to your HR and Wellbeing teams as well as conducting a review of your policies.
What Can I Do If I Am An Employer?
What can I do if I’m an employer? At Alcohol Change UK we understand these issues and are here to help. Our workplace services are designed to help employers and employees. We can deliver in-house training to your HR and Wellbeing teams as well as conducting a review of your policies.
According to the charity Mind, almost a third of workers say that they would not be comfortable speaking with their manager about their mental health.2 Similarly, the stigma associated with having difficulties with alcohol acts as a barrier to seeking help. Employers need to facilitate a healthy, empathetic environment whereby employees who need help with their physical and/or mental wellbeing feel confident and able to ask for advice, and will be supported in getting the help they need without discrimination.
Useful Resources To Download and Read:
- Support With Your Drinking
- Someone Else’s Drinking
- Am I Drinking Too Much
- Alcohol, Mental Health & The Workplace
- Alcohol Units
- Alcohol & Your Mood
- Alcohol & The Brain
- Alcohol & Mental Health
- Drinking Tips
- Alcohol Units
Alcohol Change UK also have some handy interactive tools available here. This includes an app to track your drinking as well as a units calculator.