Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace

With around 32 million people working across the UK, it is important to knowledge that this also means that’s 32 million people’s mental health to take into consideration. Although our working life can be very rewarding it can also present pressures and stresses which can significantly impact our mental health. Recent statistics have shown that 25% of UK workers feel they are unable to cope with workplace stress and require more support.

So how can we support the workforce with their mental health and wellbeing? There are various ways to provide this support and after recently completing a course for first aid for mental health, this is a good starting point. Understanding the basics of what mental ill health is, is key to knowing how to then provide the best support for the workforce.

Providing support can come in various ways and during a recent visit to a client’s premises I learnt about the different forms of support they offer their 250 employees. They have five trained mental health first aiders and two menopause champions. They hold regular events to promote mental health awareness and how important it is to reduce the stigma around talking about mental ill health. Meditation workshops are also held on a monthly basis. I was really taken a back as to the level and lengths they were going to in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all of their employees. Outstanding to say the least.

A business feels the effects of mental ill health too through absenteeism which impacts a business financially. Nearly 10% of UK adults took time off work for mental health reasons over the past year, with almost half (45%) of these absences lasting a month or longer. Work-related mental health issues now cost the UK economy £57.4 billion each year, nearly doubling in recent years.

Under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, any business has a duty of care to their employees to ensure they do not become ill as a result of coming to work and that they have demonstrated they have steps in place to prevent stress at work. Therefore, if a business steps back, looks at the bigger picture and engages in the importance of providing support for a better mental health culture in the workplace, they should see only positive changes. Creating a supportive and mentally healthy workplace is crucial to the wellbeing of employees. Businesses’ that implement mental health training for managers report a 30% reduction in mental health-related absences and 52% of employees feel more engaged and productive when their company offers mental health awareness programs.

It is important to remember that employees are at the heart of every business and their wellbeing directly impacts a business’s success.

Written by Sophie Payne