Retirement can be a time of freedom, new opportunities and more control over how you spend your time. But it can also bring changes that aren’t always easy to adjust to.
Work can provide more than an income. It can give us a routine, a sense of purpose, social connections and a feeling of being needed. When that changes, it can take time to work out what comes next.
Financial worries, changes in health, bereavement, caring responsibilities or simply having less day-to-day contact with other people can all affect how we feel. And sometimes there may be no obvious reason at all.
That’s why this World Mental Health Day, we’re highlighting the importance of being able to talk openly about mental health at every stage of life. This year’s theme is “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”, putting the emphasis on listening to people and taking their experiences seriously.
There’s no single way to feel about retirement, and no right way to spend it. If you’re finding things difficult, you don’t have to dismiss those feelings as something you should simply be able to cope with.
Support for former and retired civil servants
The Charity for Civil Servants is there for current, former and retired civil servants and their dependants. Its support covers mental wellbeing as well as issues such as bereavement, caring, relationships and financial difficulties.
If you’d like to talk to someone, the Charity offers confidential wellbeing conversations with a trained member of its team. They’ll listen without judgement and can help you find the most appropriate support.
You can find out more about the Charity for Civil Servants’ health and wellbeing support, or call 0800 056 2424 for help and advice.
You can also find useful information about mental health in later life from the Mental Health Foundation, while PensionBee and AXA Health have explored some of the ways retirement can affect our mental wellbeing.
Find out more:
• Mental Health Foundation: How to look after your mental health in later life
• PensionBee: Mental health in retirement
• AXA Health: The impact of retirement on mental health
