Hitting the bottle to cope with redundancy?

As the UK sinks deeper into recession more and more people are being affected by redundancy. According to new research* by alcohol charity Drinkaware, two fifths of people in Great Britain (39 per cent) have either been made redundant themselves, or know someone who has been made redundant in the past six months.

People deal with redundancy in their own way and many see it as an opportunity to do something completely different with their lives. But coping with the initial shock can be tough. More than half (55 per cent) have noticed a negative effect on emotional well-being resulting in mood swings, anxiety or boredom.

Whatever way you look at it, being made redundant is a life-changing experience and, as with most life-changing experiences, people can find themselves in unknown territory. Some people will want to hide under the duvet and never come out again; others might choose to drown their sorrows with a drink or 10 in the nearest pub.

In fact, one in 10 British adults has either been made redundant or knows someone who has been made redundant in the last six months and is drinking more alcohol as a result. Being out of work also affects people’s drinking patterns with almost half (49%) of this group drinking more during the daytime.

As appealing as turning to alcohol may be, it’s probably not the best way to get your life back on track. Alcohol is a depressant and can actually lead to further stress and anxiety. To help people get past redundancy, Drinkaware has teamed up with top careers coach John Lees** to produce a free advice booklet. Made redundant? The practical guide to getting back into work and staying healthy includes expert information on knowing your rights, coping with loss of income, and preparing for a new job search.

Some tips include:

• Try to avoid alcohol and take exercise to burn off tension. If you think you might be drinking too much, or are concerned about any aspect of your drinking, talk to someone you trust or call Drinkline, the national 24-hour helpline on 0800 917 8282;
• Make an appointment with a recruitment agency or careers advisor to review your CV and discuss career opportunities;
• Check your finances, bills, savings and any other income you might have, and work out a budget for the next three months.
• Stay healthy – eating a wide variety of food, especially fish, wholegrain cereals, nuts, beans, fruit, vegetables and protein, and drinking plenty water all help your mood.

As Drinkaware’s CEO, Chris Sorek, says: “The country is facing one of its worst recessions in history and redundancies are making daily headlines. Losing your job is recognised as one of the top 10 most stressful life events, and many people are turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism.

“People who have been affected by redundancy – whether they’re drinking more alcohol or not – can take a look at our advice booklet for practical ways to move forward and make a fresh start.”

To download a free copy of  Made redundant? The practical guide to getting back into work and staying healthy, or for further advice and information on alcohol and your health, visit www.drinkaware.co.uk.

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*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2253 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 17th – 19th March 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

** John Lees is a leading career strategist and writer. He has helped people from a huge variety of backgrounds with difficult career decisions, and developed a wide range of career breakthrough tools, some of which are included in How To Get A Job You’ll Love and Take Control of Your Career. A graduate of the universities of Cambridge, London and Liverpool, Lees is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, and qualified in the use of psychometric tests (BPS Intermediate Level B). He was made a Career Management Fellow by the Institute of Career Certification International. He is retained as a Senior Associate by Career Management Consultants Ltd (CMC).