Over half (54%) say because they can feel physical pain, they think it’s more evident than a mental health issue. A further 72% say it’s difficult to measure how bad mental health issues are in comparison to physical ailments, and 39% admit they don’t want to bother professionals with mental struggles as physical health problems are more urgent.

Silvia Cordoba, wellbeing coach at Vitality health insurance, says this research confirms that our conversations about mental health still have a long way to go, especially in the working world.

“The conversation around mental health in the workplace is a fundamental one,” she says. “Although it has started to open up, there is so much more to be done. To help drive this conversation even further, we must understand that mental health is as essential to our wellbeing as physical health is – and that they are inevitably connected.

“While people seem more comfortable discussing their physical pain, we are not there yet when it comes to mental health challenges. However, there is so much power in talking, it reaps real benefits for our mental health. And this is something we do with friends, family, colleagues or even strangers on a daily basis.

“We could think of it as a workout for the mind. These would be regular mental check-ins in the form of talking to someone around us and/or to mental health professionals. This can be just as important as going to the gym as it raises levels of understanding, relieves stress and improves overall health.”

Research finds most workers prioritise physical over mental health