Brian Cox fronts new wellbeing campaign focused on the workplace ahead of World Mental Health Day and issues warning to those who feel they are always at the desk

Brian Cox posed in shorts and a suit as he headed up a campaign centred around mental health in the workplace.

The actor, 78, opted for the odd combination as he tried to warn others about the importance of wellbeing in professional life.

He stood against a desk and then threw his arms up in despair as part of the campaign as he played venting frustration at day-to-day employment. 

Ahead of World Mental Health Day, a study carried out by sportswear company ASICS shows that mental health starts to decline after only two hours of continuous desk-based working, but just 15 minutes of exercise can help to reverse the effects.

As part of the new ad, Brian tells viewers: ‘I’m not the deadliest thing in the office’ before pointing at the desk in front of him and saying ‘this is’.

The Succession actor, 78, opted for the odd combination as he tried to warn others about the importance of wellbeing in professional life

Brian, famed for his role as ruthless CEO Logan Roy in Succession, warns viewers that ‘science has shown [work] can be bad for your mental health’. 

He declares: ‘Hello workers, another long day at the office? Boss being a meanie? Too bad.

‘Shut up, listen, I’ve got some important news, it turns out that I’m not the deadliest thing in the office, this is.

‘It’s a killer, science has shown it can be bad for your mental health, but I don’t see you running away from it.

‘No, your boss has you locked to it for eight, nine, 10 hours a day. Look at you, trading your own mental health for free fruit and a wellness Wednesday, banana anyone?

‘F*** the fruit, wake up geniuses, I’m giving you the truth, it’s a trap.

‘You need to get away from your desk, run, jump, rollerskate, whatever, I don’t care, just move for your mind.’

A title then appears on screen adding: ‘Your desk is a danger to your mental health, take a desk break to move your mind.’

Ahead of World Mental Health Day, a study carried out by sportswear company ASICS shows that mental health starts to decline after only two hours of continuous desk-based working 

Brian, famed for his role as ruthless CEO Logan Roy in Succession , warns viewers that ‘science has shown [work] can be bad for your mental health 

He insisted that he is nothing like his Succession character, who was the show’s main antagonist throughout its four-season run 

As part of the new ad, Brian tells viewers: ‘I’m not the deadliest thing in the office’ before pointing at the desk in front of him and saying ‘this is’.

As many as 26,000 people took part in the experiment, which showed taking a daily break for just one week lowered stress levels by 14.7%, boosted productivity by 33.2% and improved focus by 28.6

 A desk break experiment overseen by Dr Brendon Stubbs from King’s College London found when office workers added just 15 minutes of movement into their working day, their mental state improved by 22.5% with participants’ overall state improving from a score of 62 out of 100 to 76 out of 100.

As many as 26,000 people took part in the experiment, which showed taking a daily break for just one week lowered stress levels by 14.7%, boosted productivity by 33.2% and improved focus by 28.6%.

Participants also felt 33.3% more relaxed and 28.6% more calm, while 79.2% of workers said they would be more loyal to their employers if they offered movement breaks.

The Asics advert is timed to air ahead of World Mental Health Day on Thursday, October 10, and comes after the company introduced a desk break clause into its contracts allowing office workers to take a daily break for their mental wellbeing.

On World Mental Health Day Asics will donate £5 to mental health charity Mind for every employee who shares an image of their empty desk while taking a break.