Less than a fifth of full-time workers in Suffolk are getting enough sleep, research from a local mental health charity has revealed.
Just 16.9% of 7,317 full-time workers surveyed in the county said they are getting a healthy amount of sleep, which is one of every person’s 12 physical and emotional needs.
The figure was revealed as part of Suffolk Mind’s Emotional Needs Audit, an ongoing survey into the county’s mental health.
Common barriers workers reported to sleep included their work situation (42.18% of respondents) and their workload (28.19%). The most prevalent was their overall physical and mental health at 54.1%.
Ezra Hewing, Head of Mental Health Education at Suffolk Mind, said the findings showcase the need for better mental health support in the workplace.
Ezra said: “All of us know the feeling of coming into work after a bad night’s sleep.
“Sleep is incredibly important to both our physical and mental health – so coming into the office when your mind and body haven’t had ample time to rest can be detrimental both to an employee’s wellbeing and a business’s overall output.
“There are so many factors behind the things that get in the way of a healthy sleep, but a great place to start – as highlighted in the barriers respondents have reported – is in the office.”
Suffolk Mind offers workplace training via its training arm, The Mental Health Toolkit – including an interactive two-day course to empower businesses to support staff with mental health.
The Supporting Mental Health course helps build a healthy relationship between team members, directly influencing productivity, motivation and engagement while equipping people with the tools to better understand and manage their mental health.
Ezra added: “It is important change begins at the top to help build a more supportive management structure that’s in touch with the needs of its workforce.
“While workplace training isn’t going to help improve sleep overnight, it is a great first step in relieving the stresses staff may feel while helping them better understand their mental health.”
