
English: 
six weeks English from BBC learning
English
hello this is 6 minute English I'm Neil
and I'm Georgina in this program we're
focusing on the topic of mental health
at work yes it's an issue that can be
difficult to see if someone has an
injury like a broken leg or a serious
medical issue it's obvious and we can
understand what's happening with mental
health issues though there's no physical
sign and people who are experiencing
difficulties maybe don't get the same
understanding as people who have medical
problems it's a topic that has been
getting more publicity recently
particularly as members of the British
royal family have been talking about it
also awareness is raised through events
such as World Mental Health Day and that
is the topic of our quiz World Mental
Health Day is held every year on October
the 10th it aims to raise awareness of
mental health issues and their effects

English: 
Neil: Hello. This is 6 Minute English.
I'm Neil.
Georgina: And I'm Georgina.
Neil: In this programme we’re focusing on the topic
of mental health at work.
Georgina: Yes, it’s an issue that can be
difficult to see. If someone has an injury,
like a broken leg or a serious medical
issue, it’s obvious, and we can understand what’s
happening. With mental health issues, though,
there’s no physical sign and people who
are experiencing difficulties maybe don’t
get the same understanding as people who have
medical problems.
Neil: It’s a topic that has been getting
more publicity recently, particularly as members
of the British royal family have been
talking about it. Also, awareness is raised through
events such as World Mental Health Day.
And that is the topic of our quiz. World
Mental Health Day is held every year on
October 10th. It aims to raise awareness of mental
health issues and their effects on people’s

English: 
lives. In what year was it first held?
A: 1992 B: 2002  C: 2012
What do you think, Georgina?
Georgina: I don’t know – I think it will
be older than 2012, but as old as 1992? I
don’t know. I’m going to go with 2002
Neil: OK. I’ll have the answer later in
the programme and we’ll see if you’re
right. Mental health problems are very difficult
personally for those who suffer from them,
and they also have an impact on businesses.
Paul Farmer is head of the mental health awareness
charity Mind. He spoke on the BBC World Service
Business Daily programme about this. How much
does he says it costs businesses in the UK?
Paul Farmer, CEO Mind : We know that the cost
of failing to address mental health in business
is colossal. In the UK, it costs between 33
and 42 billion pounds a year, about $50 billion
dollars, and round about 300,000 people

English: 
on people's lives in what year was it
first held was it a 1992 B 2002 or C
2012 would you think Georgina mmm I
don't know I think it will be older than
2012 but as old as 1992 hmm I don't know
I'm gonna go with 2002 okay well I'll
have the answer later in the program and
we'll see if you're right mental health
problems are very difficult personally
for those who suffer from them and they
also have an impact on businesses Paul
Farmer is head of the mental health
awareness charity mind he spoke on the
BBC World Service business daily
programme about this how much does he
say it costs businesses in the UK we
know that the cost of failing to address
mental health in business is colossal in
the UK it costs between 33 and 42
billion pounds a year
about 50 billion dollars and around
about 300,000 people fall out of work

English: 
fall out of work every year as a result of poor
mental health. So that’s a huge cost to
workplaces and to individuals. Behind those
numbers, though, are the lives of talented,
able, contributors who often just slide away
from the workplace because they don’t
get the right help and support for their mental
health.
Neil: What figures did Paul Farmer give there?
Georgina: He gave the figure of about
between 33 and £42 billion – which is about $50
billion dollars.
Neil: That’s a lot of money!
Georgina: It is – in fact he called it colossal.
This adjective means huge – really, really
big. This is the cost to business he says
of failing to address the mental health issue.
Neil: Failing to address means ignoring or
not dealing with the problems. It leads to
staff leaving work, and he says these people
are contributors, they give something to the
business in terms of their skill and experience.
Georgina: And because of mental health issues,
which could be addressed but aren’t, those

English: 
every year as a result of poor mental
health so that's a huge cost to
workplaces and to individuals behind
those numbers though are the lives
of talented able contributors who often
just slide away from the workplace
because they don't get the right help
and support for their mental health
what figures did Paul Farmer give there
he gave the figure of about between
thirty three and forty two billion
pounds which is about fifty billion
dollars that's a lot of money it is in
fact he called it colossal this
adjective means huge really really big
this is the cost of business he says are
failing to address the mental health
issue failing to address means ignoring
or not dealing with the problems it
leads to staff leaving work and he says
these people are contributors they give
something to the business in terms of
their skill and experience and because
of the mental health issues which could

English: 
contributors are being lost to the business.
So it costs companies more money to recruit
and train new staff, and you can’t always
replace the experience that is lost.
Neil: Let’s listen again.
Paul Farmer, CEO Mind: We know that the cost
of failing to address mental health in business
is colossal. In the UK, it costs between 33
and 42 billion pounds a year, about $50 billion
dollars, and round about 300,000 people fall
out of work every year as a result of poor
mental health. So that’s a huge cost to
workplaces and to individuals. Behind those
numbers, though, are the lives of talented,
able, contributors who often just slide away
from the workplace because they don’t
get the right help and support for their mental
health.
Neil: In recent years it seems as if there
has been more understanding of mental health
issues, not just in the workplace but in society
as a whole. Geoff McDonald is a campaigner
for the organisation Minds at Work. He

English: 
be addressed but aren't those
contributors are being lost to the
business so it cost companies more money
to recruit and train new staff and you
can't always replace the experience that
is lost let's listen again we know that
the cost of failing to address mental
health in business is colossal
in the UK it costs between thirty three
and forty two billion pounds a year
about fifty billion dollars and around
about 300,000 people fall out of work
every year as a result of poor mental
health so it's a huge cost to workplaces
and to individuals behind those numbers
though are the lives of talented able
contributors who often just slide away
from the workplace because they don't
get the right help and support for their
mental health in recent years it seems
as if there has been more understanding
of mental health issues not just in the
workplace but in society as a whole Jeff
McDonald is a campaigner for the

English: 
organization minds at work he spoke on
the business daily program about one way
that things are getting a little better
I think what's really changed is people
telling their stories and the more
stories that we tell it kind of begins
to normalize this
every single story that we tell is like
sending a lifeboat out into the ocean
and the millions and millions and people
who are suffering in silence
do you not they do they cling on to that
lifeboat and they realize they're not
alone and they might just be normal
so because more people are talking about
this issue it begins to normalize it
this means it becomes normal it's not
unusual strange or hidden there are
people who suffer in silence they keep
to themselves
and hide their problems from others but
because there is more publicity about
this topic they can begin to feel that
they are not alone and they don't have
to suffer in silence people sharing
their stories are like lifeboats for
those who do suffer in silence in this
metaphor they can cling on to the

English: 
spoke on the Business Daily programme about
one way that things were getting
a little better.
Geoff McDonald, Minds at Work : I think what’s
really changed is people telling their stories,
and the more stories that we tell it kind
of begins to normalise this. Every single
story that we tell is like sending a lifeboat
out into the ocean and the millions and millions
of people who are suffering in silence, do
you know what they do? They cling on to that
lifeboat and they realise they’re not alone
and they might just be normal.
Neil: So, because more people are talking
about this issue, it begins to normalise it.
This means it becomes ‘normal’. It’s
not unusual, strange or hidden.
Georgina: There are people who suffer in silence
– they keep to themselves and hide their
problems from others, but because there is
more publicity about this topic, they can
begin to feel that they are not alone and
they don’t have to suffer in silence.
Neil: People sharing their stories are like
lifeboats for those who do suffer in silence.

English: 
lifeboats right we are going to have
another look at our vocabulary but first
let's have the answer to the quiz when
was the first World Mental Health Day
was it a 1992 B 2002 or C 2012 Georgina
what did you say I thought it was 2002
it was actually earlier 1992 now a
review of our vocabulary failing to
address is a phrase that means ignoring
a problem or not trying to help with a
problem something colossal is very very
big a contributor is someone who has
something to give who is a positive
benefit to in this case a business then
we have the verb to normalize meaning to
make something normal someone who
suffers in silence doesn't talk about
their problems and may hide them from
others and finally if you cling on to
something you hold on to it tightly you
don't want to let it go and that's all
from us from this program we look

English: 
In this metaphor they can cling onto the lifeboats.
Right, we’re going to another look at our
vocabulary, but first let’s have the answer
to today’s quiz. When was the first World
Mental Health Day?
A: 1992 B: 2002
C: 2012
Georgina, what did you say?
Georgina: I thought 2002
Neil: It was actually earlier - 1992.
Now, a review of our vocabulary.
Georgina: Failing to address is a phrase that
means ignoring a problem or not trying to
help with a problem
Neil: Something colossal is very, very big.
Georgina: A contributor is someone who has
something to give, who is a positive benefit
to, in this case, a business.
Neil: Then we have the verb to normalise,
meaning to make something normal.
Georgina: Someone who suffers in silence,
doesn’t talk about their problems and may
hide them from others.
Neil: And finally, if you cling on to something,
you hold on to it tightly, you don’t want
to let it go. And that’s all from us from
this programme. We look forward to your company

English: 
forward to your company again soon in
the meantime find us online on social
media and on the BBC learning english
app bye
six minutes English from BBC learning
English hi everyone we hope you enjoyed
that video and thank you very much for
watching we have so many more just like
it so if you don't want to miss a single
one make sure to subscribe and we will
see you regularly hope to see you soon
bye guys

English: 
again soon. In the meantime find us online,
on social media and on the BBC Learning English
app.
Georgina: Bye!
