six weeks English from BBC learning English
hello this is 6 minute English I'm Neil and I'm Georgina in this program we're
focusing on the topic of mental health at work yes it's an issue that can be
difficult to see if someone has an injury like a broken leg or a serious
medical issue it's obvious and we can understand what's happening with mental
health issues though there's no physical sign and people who are experiencing
difficulties maybe don't get the same understanding as people who have medical
problems it's a topic that has been getting more publicity recently
particularly as members of the British royal family have been talking about it
also awareness is raised through events such as World Mental Health Day and that
is the topic of our quiz World Mental Health Day is held every year on October
the 10th it aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and their effects
on people's lives in what year was it first held was it a 1992 B 2002 or C
2012 would you think Georgina mmm I don't know I think it will be older than
2012 but as old as 1992 hmm I don't know I'm gonna go with 2002 okay well I'll
have the answer later in the program and we'll see if you're right mental health
problems are very difficult personally for those who suffer from them and they
also have an impact on businesses Paul Farmer is head of the mental health
awareness charity mind he spoke on the BBC World Service business daily
programme about this how much does he say it costs businesses in the UK we
know that the cost of failing to address mental health in business is colossal in
the UK it costs between 33 and 42 billion pounds a year
about 50 billion dollars and around about 300,000 people fall out of work
every year as a result of poor mental health so that's a huge cost to
workplaces and to individuals behind those numbers though are the lives
of talented able contributors who often just slide away from the workplace
because they don't get the right help and support for their mental health
what figures did Paul Farmer give there he gave the figure of about between
thirty three and forty two billion pounds which is about fifty billion
dollars that's a lot of money it is in fact he called it colossal this
adjective means huge really really big this is the cost of business he says are
failing to address the mental health issue failing to address means ignoring
or not dealing with the problems it leads to staff leaving work and he says
these people are contributors they give something to the business in terms of
their skill and experience and because of the mental health issues which could
be addressed but aren't those contributors are being lost to the
business so it cost companies more money to recruit and train new staff and you
can't always replace the experience that is lost let's listen again we know that
the cost of failing to address mental health in business is colossal
in the UK it costs between thirty three and forty two billion pounds a year
about fifty billion dollars and around about 300,000 people fall out of work
every year as a result of poor mental health so it's a huge cost to workplaces
and to individuals behind those numbers though are the lives of talented able
contributors who often just slide away from the workplace because they don't
get the right help and support for their mental health in recent years it seems
as if there has been more understanding of mental health issues not just in the
workplace but in society as a whole Jeff McDonald is a campaigner for the
organization minds at work he spoke on the business daily program about one way
that things are getting a little better I think what's really changed is people
telling their stories and the more stories that we tell it kind of begins
to normalize this every single story that we tell is like
sending a lifeboat out into the ocean and the millions and millions and people
who are suffering in silence do you not they do they cling on to that
lifeboat and they realize they're not alone and they might just be normal
so because more people are talking about this issue it begins to normalize it
this means it becomes normal it's not unusual strange or hidden there are
people who suffer in silence they keep to themselves
and hide their problems from others but because there is more publicity about
this topic they can begin to feel that they are not alone and they don't have
to suffer in silence people sharing their stories are like lifeboats for
those who do suffer in silence in this metaphor they can cling on to the
lifeboats right we are going to have another look at our vocabulary but first
let's have the answer to the quiz when was the first World Mental Health Day
was it a 1992 B 2002 or C 2012 Georgina what did you say I thought it was 2002
it was actually earlier 1992 now a review of our vocabulary failing to
address is a phrase that means ignoring a problem or not trying to help with a
problem something colossal is very very big a contributor is someone who has
something to give who is a positive benefit to in this case a business then
we have the verb to normalize meaning to make something normal someone who
suffers in silence doesn't talk about their problems and may hide them from
others and finally if you cling on to something you hold on to it tightly you
don't want to let it go and that's all from us from this program we look
forward to your company again soon in the meantime find us online on social
media and on the BBC learning english app bye
six minutes English from BBC learning English hi everyone we hope you enjoyed
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