Study reveals young men from Wales feel overworked and are suffering in silence

Following a report earlier this year which found that 50% of adults in Wales could be suffering from mental distress during the pandemic, a recent study by Slater Menswear has now revealed that millennial men from Wales are some of the most likely in the UK to not inform their employer that they are overworking and struggling with their mental health as a result.

The research revealed that males aged between 25 – 34 are most prone to overworking as a result of the changing working circumstances within the past two years. What’s more, 3 in 5 millennial men (57%) feel as though they are overworking to the point where it affects their mental health, with a quarter of these males not informing their employer regarding the issue.

When looking at this on a regional level, Slater Menswear uncovered that Yorkshire and the Humber had the highest number of respondents stating they did not let their employer know that they were overworked (20%), followed by Wales (18%) and West Midlands (17%).

Jonny Rose, Marketing Manager at Slater Menswear discusses the study: “The research takes place in the wake of the UK’s mental health referrals hitting their highest point in two years with males being more likely to take their own lives than females. As a menswear brand, with many males working within our industry, we felt that we needed to use any presence we had to discuss this topic.”

In light of the research, Matthew Gray, from Samaritans, spoke to Slater Menswear to offer four tips to implement if you ever feel overwhelmed as a result of work:

1. Let someone know how you’re feelingTalking can help put things into perspective and help us feel less isolated. It can be hard to reach out but talking to a trusted friend, colleague or family member is something we encourage you to try, however you can.
2. Rest is a form of self careIt could be something as simple as taking a book or a copy of the paper to a park for half an hour or taking your annual leave to enjoy some downtime. If time off isn’t an option in the immediate circumstance, even stepping away and taking a five-minute break over a cup of tea can help you relax and recharge.
3. Get fresh air Whatever way you can, taking some time to enjoy the outdoors can have a positive effect on your mood. Our nature and mental health page has lots of tips for different ways to enjoy nature both inside and outside.
4. Take a break from social media and the news If you find it hard to stay offline, prioritising other activities can help you switch it off. Try turning off your notifications or leaving your phone in another room for a few hours. If your job involves lots of screen time, taking a break away from your devices after work might help you relax.