Honoring World Mental Health Day: Andela and SafetyWing

As a leading private global marketplace for technologists, we’re committed to nurturing and guiding our thriving tech community. While growing our global remote community, we have put a special emphasis on providing Andelans with access to numerous health offerings, from wellness tools and platforms to healthcare plans.  

Access to mental health wellness tools and guidance is essential for all remote workers. According to the WHO, in 2019, 970 million people globally were living with a mental health disorder, with anxiety and depression the most common. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience major depression in their lives.

The focus for this year’s World Mental Health Day on October 10 is workplace mental health. The theme highlights the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, for the benefit of people, organizations, and communities. In honor of this, we’ve collaborated with our healthcare partner SafetyWing, who provides insurance for remote workers, to share some top insights and resources for ensuring your mental wellbeing while you work remotely.  

The Shift Towards Mental Health Awareness

Mental health awareness has come a long way over the past few decades, especially with the societal shifts brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, there's a growing recognition of the importance of mental health, particularly in remote work, which offers both significant benefits and unique challenges. Creating a mentally healthy workplace involves several crucial factors, from offering effective communication tools and mental health training for employees, to actively addressing discrimination and bullying. But despite increased awareness, severe mental health issues still carry a stigma, so it is important to support those around you in the workplace, as well as yourself.  

Remote work, once a ‘perk,’ is now a work model in modern employment, offering flexibility and autonomy that many technologists require and cherish. However, as inherently social creatures, we can sometimes feel a little isolated by remote work, leading to loneliness and decreased productivity. Therefore, we all need to take some precautions to ensure good mental and physical health while working remotely.

SafetyWing’s Top Tips for Mental Health Wellness  

By partnering with SafetyWing, we’re ensuring we take a holistic approach to wellness, focusing on the physical, emotional, and mental health of our community members. Check out some of SafteyWing’s top tips to ensure you take good care of yourself as you work from home:  

• Physical Activity: Regular exercise, whether a brisk walk in your local neighborhood or a fitness class, is crucial for maintaining mental clarity and balance.

• Therapy Sessions: Regular therapy, accessible through online platforms, can provide a consistent outlet for emotional processing and mental wellbeing.

• Community Engagement: Connecting with others, through coffee dates or digital meetups, helps counteract feelings of isolation. As an Andelan, you can access a global community of like-minded peers for support, guidance, and friendship, 24/7!  

• Embrace Mindfulness: It’s important to establish healthy boundaries between your work and personal life to prevent burnout. Developing structured mindfulness routines, including meditation and journaling, can help you kick-start your day with the right focus and intention

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Join the Conversation

Our partnership with SafetyWing aims to amplify the conversation around mental health in remote work environments.  

On October 30th, in honor of World Mental Health Day, we’re hosting a special webinar, sharing insights from our teams on how you can prioritize your mental wellbeing. Learn from industry leaders and discover practical strategies to nurture your mental health as a remote worker.

Find out more information and register for the upcoming webinar to become part of a community committed to mental health and wellbeing in the remote work era. Join us to take proactive steps to care for your mental wellbeing!

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