30 Nov 2023
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Cultivating a culture of wellbeing: EY’s commitment to mental health

EY Norway
By EY Norway

Multidisciplinary professional services organization.

30 Nov 2023
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At EY, we offer a multitude of resources and support systems to help prioritize our employees’ mental wellbeing.

In today’s fast-paced and demanding work environment, the importance of maintaining our mental wellbeing cannot be overstated. At EY, we recognize the need of a healthy and happy workforce and are committed to fostering a workplace culture that promotes mental wellbeing. Taking care of yourself is a critical component of bringing out your best and this is why wellbeing is one of the core “Better Me” behaviors in our Transformative Leadership model, alongside agility and curiosity.

In continuation of our efforts to uphold this commitment, we organized a series of Nordic Wellbeing Days focused on mental wellness this Fall, which left our team feeling inspired and rejuvenated. From expert speakers who shed light on the importance of understanding the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression to why social inclusion is crucial for our mental health, we left no stone unturned in our quest to uplift and support our people. These sessions were just another way for us to reinforce our dedication to putting our people first.

  • Stress Management by Dr Sarah Hattam

    Dr. Sarah Hattam, a medical doctor with over thirty years of experience in the UK National Health Service, delved deep into the effects of stress on our body and mind, the need to develop a positive stress mindset and the coping strategies to keep unwanted stress at bay.

    The body’s stress response

    Stress is our body’s response to pressure, especially when we have little control over a situation. This response is triggered by amygdala, a tiny almond-shaped site within the primitive limbic system of our brain. This part of the brain isn’t nuanced at all — you get the same response when you come face-to-face with a wild animal, when reading a passive-aggressive email from a colleague or when you are rushing to meet a deadline! Our stress response has thus evolved to keep us safe to deal with moments of pressure or threat.

    In a world full of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), we might feel like we are constantly walking on edge. If you are consistently under pressure and feel you cannot go about your day-to-day activities because of stress, here are some coping strategies that you can try out, according to Dr Hattam.

    Manage your stress mindset: Reframe your stress mindset to reap the benefits of stress. There is some emerging evidence to suggest that people do their best piece of work under stress. A short burst of stress hormones indeed has a positive effect. It gives the energy and adrenaline to focus on the job at hand and helps minimize distraction.

    Harness the morning cortisol wave: The physiological surge of cortisol first thing in the morning, between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., is designed to turbocharge you for the day. This is followed by a cortisol drop during midday. So, make use of this hormonal surge by doing your most important tasks first thing in the morning.

    Be aware of the physical effects of stress: Nearly all of us will have some physical manifestation of stress. This may include tension in the neck and shoulder muscles, headaches, gut symptoms, facial flushing, increased sweating, palpitation, poor sleep or tingling hands and feet. Paying attention to these physical sensations can help you learn more about your triggers and how to deal with them.

    Complete the stress cycle: Take time to intentionally bring the stress cycle to an end. There are different ways to do it, such as by sharing or talking it out, laughing, crying, doing something creative or journaling.

    Prime your brain positively: Chronic stress can make it harder for the brain to get the right hit of dopamine and experience pleasure. So, remember to engage in small activities or pursuits that give you joy to get the dopamine and endorphin going. This could be as simple as sitting in your backyard and watching the flowers sway to the breeze or getting your partner to give you a neck massage.

    Power of touch: The skin’s nerve fibres respond best to slow, light touch. Whenever we activate these fibres, they carry messages to our brain to activate the calm and control centers of our brain.

    Movement downregulates stress: Any movement can help downregulate your stress response. So, remember to get out and about during the day.

    Get a dose of nature: The sights and sounds of nature has a calming effect on us. Studies have noted a marked increase in cortisol levels in people who spend time in nature.

    Activate your breath: Deep breaths can help deactivate the stress response. Place a hand on your stomach and allow your belly to rise and fall. Our diaphragm is connected by the vagus nerve to the centers that switch on the parasympathetic nervous system and thereby can help downregulate the stress response.

  • Shining a Light on Mental Health

    Mark O’Gray, in the session “Shining a light on Mental Health,” helped us unwrap what mental health is and deep dived into what depression is and how to handle it.

    Like most things in life, mental health too exists on a spectrum. On one end, we have positive mental health and on the other, mental illness. You have a positive mental health when you are in control of your emotions, you have good cognitive function and you are coping with the ebbs and flow of everyday life. The sooner we can spot the early warning signs of those who are finding it difficult to cope, the sooner we can get the required help and the sooner they can recover.

    Language and stigma

    Due to internalized stigma, we often hear people talking about mental health in a negative way. We need to be aware of the language we use when we talk about mental health, such as “shame” and “stigma,” and understand the impact it could have on people, leading them to shy away from seeking help. Hence, it is paramount that we create and foster a culture of care.

    Depression

    The National Institute of Healthcare and Excellence (NICE) defines depression as “a loss of interest and enjoyment in ordinary things and experiences … A low mood and a range of associated emotional, cognitive, physical and behavioral symptoms.” What differentiates depression from a general low mood is the longevity of the low mood and the impact it has on your day-to-day life. The three core symptoms we associate with depression are low mood, low energy and motivation, and lack of desire or joy.

    Signs to look out for

    How they feel: Hopeless, emotionless, angry, sad, guilty, helpless, anxious, mood swings.

    How they think: Indecisive, self-doubt, impaired memory, pessimism, blame, loss of judgement and concentration, criticism, confusion.

    How they tend to behave: Self-neglect, neglect of responsibilities, pessimism, crying, loss of motivation, withdrawal.

    Physical effects: Change in sleep patterns, irregular menstrual cycles, loss of libido, aches and pains, loss of energy, change in appearance, change in eating habits, change in weight.

    What we tend to see at work: Uncertainty, fatigue, absenteeism, substance abuse, drop of morale or productivity, engagement and cooperation.

    Risks and protective factors

    Individual risk factors: Abuse, stress, trauma, prison, alcohol, drugs, smoking, illness, disability, genetics, poor parenting and lack of support.

    Societal risk factors: Unemployment, poverty, poor education, inequality, stigma, discrimination, poor housing, community violence.

    Protective factors

    Life skills: Positive parenting, self-belief, emotional literacy, communication, effective conflict resolution, problem-solving skills, confidence.

    Community or health: Rest and sleep, physical activity, nutrition, social network, stable housing and environment, tolerant community, meaningful activity.

  • Mental Health and the Need to Belong

    In this session, Norwegian psychologist Benjamin Silseth helped us better understand how we can take better care of our own mental health, what affects us and how, as well as a deeper understanding of why social inclusion is so important to us.

    Silseth explains the four crucial factors central to an individual’s mental health: evolutionary psychology, neuropsychology, attachment theory and our community.

    Evolutionary psychology

    Evolutionary psychology suggests that we develop in order to adapt, survive, procreate and protect ourselves. When we think of mental health in this perspective, it becomes easier to explain why we are experiencing pain, fear, sensitivity to negative evaluation or shame. These emotions are necessary for our survival. Feelings of shame and guilt are supposed to help prevent social exclusion and rejection. Our fear of rejection is so extreme, because rejection is related to not being able to survive.

    Neuropsychology

    To better understand mental health, we need to understand how our brain works. Our brain is responsible not only for learning, but also our changes in our behaviour and ways of thinking.

    Neural plasticity

    Our brain is like a muscle that is associative, plastic and flexible. In order to make changes to our mental health, we need to actively focus on addressing the issues and not expect any change to happen by itself. It is interesting to note that our brain has the tendency to prioritize the unpleasant experiences in order to solve them for us, and stores and recollects memories based on how we are feeling.

    Attachment theory

    Attachment theory, in simple terms, refers to how we are affected by our primary caregivers when growing up. How our parents or other caregivers took care of us and treated us has a significant effect on our personality, our behavior and how we deal with challenges in adulthood. This could easily provide explanations on a more individual level than on the basis of a broader evolutionary psychology perspective. For example, isolation as a coping mechanism in adulthood could be explained by looking into the person’s past.

    Community

    In today’s times, choice and self-realization are hot topics, where there is a lot of focus on the individual, their wishes, dreams and needs. Since there is a lot of pressure to self-realize and be unique, many of us feel overwhelmed when we are told that we can be whoever we want to be. Since our ancestors lived social and active lives in nature as hunters and gatherers, marked by predictability, the focus on freedom, responsibility and options is thus naturally anxiety-inducing. We are yet to adapt to a sedentary, high-calorie, technologic and abstract society with unrealistic demands and expectations. While the demands of our community are to be happy, unique and successful, our inner needs tell us to not stand out and face rejection from the group.

    How to understand the need to belong

    Belonging is defined as a subjective experience involving contact with others, the need for positive feedback and the need for interpersonal contact. It is not dependent on involving other people, but can relate to events, a specific cause or other things that unit us — a shared set of thoughts or ideals that we can relate to and identify with. We try to regulate ourselves, through our actions, words, behavior and body language, when socializing with others in order to fit in. Irrational thoughts can sometimes relate to fear of rejection. From the moment we are born, we seek to connect with others — to secure food, safety, love and so on.

    What should we do?

    Build relations with others who share your values, ideas or identity markers. Being a part of something, and by investing goals, energy and cooperation within a group, the likelihood of feeling like you belong increases.

    When we try to fit in, it is important to be authentic to make sure that you are representing yourselves. If you create a space of belonging somewhere with only a version of you because you have adjusted too much, you risk being lonely because it is not really you who is fitting in.

    When we lack belongingness, it is easy to withdraw. By being open, it is much easier to include others and yourself. Ask questions, practise active listening and give people your focused attention.

    Research finds that when we share positive experiences with others, it reduces our own feeling of loneliness. Our brain remembers those good experiences, and uses them as protection against loneliness, and hardwires our brain to think and feel more positively. This means we would need to expose ourselves to situations, places and people where it is more likely for you to have those experiences.

  • Understanding Anxiety

    In this session, Dr Sarah Hattam helped our people understand anxiety, how to differentiate between healthy and toxic worries, and the practical strategies to take control of the condition.

    What is anxiety?

    Anxiety is an emotion everyone feels from time to time. It is, simply put, our body's response to possible threat or danger. It becomes a problem when it is out of proportion to the threat or if it becomes prolonged. When you get stuck in a worry loop, it constantly preoccupies your thoughts. Toxic worry is thus not defined by the subject of the worry but how the worry unfolds — when it “sticks.”

    Get in touch with a healthcare provider if you can relate to the following.

    • I find it hard to wind down.
    • I am aware of dryness in my mouth.
    • I experience trembling (e.g., in my hands).
    • I use of lot of nervous energy.
    • I can overreact to situations.
    • I get agitated.
    • I worry about situations where I might panic and make a fool of myself.
    • I feel close to panic.

    Anxiety can be of various types. The following constitute what Dr Hattam calls the “anxiety family tree”:

    • Mixed anxiety and depression
    • Generalised anxiety disorder
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder
    • Panic disorder
    • Social anxiety
    • Agoraphobia
    • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
    • Health anxiety
    • Body dysmorphic disorder
    • Specific phobias

    You could be at risk of being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder if you have or have experienced the following:

    • Adverse childhood experiences such as trauma
    • Having a first-degree relative with an anxiety disorder
    • Other mental health disorders
    • Neurodiverse conditions
    • Life of stressors
    • Alcohol and substance abuse

    Dealing with anxiety

    • Incorporate positive lifestyle changes: Bringing in positive lifestyle changes can have a great impact on your mental health. This includes increasing your intake of plant-based food, reducing alcohol intake, ensuring that you are getting adequate sleep and exercising regularly to downregulate your stress hormone.
    • Anchor yourself to the present moment: Live in the present. Do not fall prey to anticipatory anxiety. Even if the unforeseen happens, remember that human resilience is incredible. You will find a way to cope with it.
    • Challenge your thoughts: Thoughts are not facts. We need to recognize that unhelpful thoughts are like junk mail. Decide not to reply to them, delete them and don’t go fishing for them in your recycle bin!
    • Practise visualization: The process of visualization can be helpful in expanding your ability to rest and relax by focusing your mind on more calming and positive images.
    • Have a worry time: Keep a list of your worries. Write it down. Deal with it at your "worry time" every day — just not before bed!
    • Practise deep breathing: Take five deep breaths. Tell your brain that you are the one in control, you are calm and relaxed, and there is nothing to be anxious about.
    • Overcome negative thoughts: Our brains, unfortunately, have a negativity bias. Focus on the half-full glass. Try to see the positives even in difficult situations. Deal with negative thoughts by asking yourself: What can I do about it? Is there anything in my zone of control about it? Identify and focus on the things in your control.
Picture of Treepose by a woman with a anglewinged hoodie and nature in the horizon.

Balance your work and passion

At EY, we recognize the importance of a striking a harmonious work-life balance. We understand that our people have diverse passions and interests outside of the workplace that deserve their time and attention. To support this, we actively encourage our employees to take time off and do the things they love.

Celine Urrang Gjersvik works full-time in Brand, Marketing and Communication at EY Norway, but writes poetry and has published a book on the side. She states: “It’s wonderful working in an environment where we not only support and cheer on each other at work, but also encourage each other to pursue other passions in life.”

Christian Kongolo, who works full-time in the Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) in EY Norway, also runs hir own company Finans4alle, which aims to increase diversity in the Norwegian financial industry by getting more highly educated people with multicultural backgrounds into the industry. Read more about her incredible story here. (NO)

Through a culture that promotes self-care, we empower our people to strike the right balance between their professional commitments and personal passion. This not only enhances their job satisfaction and personal wellbeing, but also helps fuel their creativity and productivity while at work.

In Finland, we also have wellbeing clubs run by employees themselves with the aim to encourage each other to engage in diverse activities outside working hours that promote inclusion, wellbeing and networking within the company.

New parents, we’ve got your covered!

We understand the challenges that come with parenthood, and we strive to make this transition as smooth as possible for all our people. We offer generous leave for new parents that allow for precious bonding time with their new-born. Our maternity leave offers ample time for mothers to recover and nurture their new-borns, while our paternity leave ensures that fathers have the opportunity to actively be involved in the early stages of their child’s life. Karl, Consultant, CFO Advisory, here (NO) writes about how he was able to beautifully balance his personal and professional commitments as he became a father.

EY Denmark introduced a new maternity scheme (DK) last year, according to which, maternity leave rules apply to all employees, regardless of family constellation and whether you become parents by natural birth or adoption. EY's reintegration model has also been expanded, wherein new mothers get to work 80% time, but to 100% pay in the first 12 weeks after maternity leave. Fathers and co-parents also have access to a total of 24 weeks of fully paid leave.

EY also offers parental and family transition coaching to all employees. Parental coaching sessions typically include the following themes: discussing expectations and needs, creating a transition plan, creating a confident return to work from an extended leave period, as well as reimagining personal and professional identity and defining success.

We thus strongly believe in giving our employees the confidence to navigate this beautiful yet demanding journey without worrying about their work commitments.

Embrace the benefits of a hybrid work model

At EY, we recognize our people’s individual needs for flexible work hours and work locations, as well as our need for collaboration, relationship-building, teaming and wellbeing. Our new hybrid working model provides you with the flexibility to work from home as well as the office. This approach not only helps you strike a balance that suits your individual preferences and lifestyle, but also demonstrates our commitment to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of work. We believe this much-needed flexibility supports the overall wellbeing of our employees and enables them to achieve their best, both professionally and personally.

Coaching services at your fingertips

At EY, we prioritize the holistic health and wellbeing of our employees, and our health insurance, which covers consultations with psychologists as well, reflects this commitment. We believe in reducing the stigma around mental health by providing easy access to coaching or counselling to those who may need it. For example, employees in EY Norway have access to a digital psychologist guidance, free of charge through EYR. At Finland, Auntie, a low-threshold mental wellbeing service, provides support to employees suffering from stress or lost motivation.

We must have all felt at some point that it would have been beneficial to have access to a coach. The Transformative Leadership Coaching network at EY is a group of employees who are Certified Coaches and who have agreed to share their time and expertise with anyone from within the organization. This is aimed at helping you set the path for greater personal and professional development. With the support of your coach, you can create your goals, reflect on where you are today, where you want to be, and commit to the actions needed to achieve desired results.

Putting our people first

By prioritizing mental wellbeing, along with physical wellbeing, we aim to ensure that our employees have the necessary support to lead healthy and fulfilling lives inside and outside of work.

In today’s fast-paced world, where work and life intersect more than ever, prioritizing your mental health is paramount. Wellbeing is not just a buzzword at EY, but a core organizational value that drives our everyday actions. We have always believed that people are our greatest asset and we constantly ensure that they have the tools and support to thrive personally as well as professionally. Together, we strive to create a workplace where every employee can thrive.

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Summary

At EY, we believe that we can only build a better working world by putting our people’s wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. We have a range of programs to help our employees look after their wellbeing, from remote working options to employee assistance initiatives and wellness events. We recognize the need of a healthy and happy workforce and continuously strive to create a workplace culture that promotes mental wellbeing.

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EY Norway
By EY Norway

Multidisciplinary professional services organization.

Related topics Careers
Upvote