Movember
Some of the guys at YesTax will be taking part in Movember this year to promote Men’s Health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and particularly mental health awareness, a subject very close to the hearts of many of us.
YesTax is very proud to be a majority female firm in an industry which has been historically more male orientated, and we like to see ourselves as a very progressive firm in many respects. In November though we are concentrating on Men’s Health issues – it is a sad fact that 3 in 4 suicides in the UK are by men, and globally we lose one man every minute in this manner.
The signs of somebody struggling with mental health are not always easy to spot. They can be subtle and difficult to identify, which makes it hard for others to help. A simple model which can help is ALEC – Ask, Listen, Encourage Action and Check In.
Ask
Asking how people are feeling particularly when you have noticed changes in their behaviour, whether it is contributing less in a group chat or not turning up at social events as frequently. People will often say that they are fine when they’re not, so don’t be afraid to ask twice.
Listen
Give your full attention, and make it clear that you’re not judging. You’re not expected to diagnose problems or offer solutions, but just talking can make a difference.
Encourage Action
Even simple actions such as getting more sleep, exercise and taking steps to make work less stressful can make a huge difference.
Check In
Suggest catching up soon, make time for a call or meeting or even just drop a message to show that none of us are alone.
If you do want to donate to Movember you can follow this link: https://uk.movember.com/team/2477508
YesTax. Positively Better.