In the public domain conversations are increasingly opening up around mental health. There has been increasing political attention and associated policy changes. We have also seen high-profile campaigns including the Heads Together through the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, working with charities to tackle the stigma, raise awareness, and provide help for people with mental health challenges.
However, reporting mental health issues in the workplace is much lower than reporting other ill health. Work is still needed to reduce the stigma and increase the knowledge gaps and training on how to support colleagues.
With statistics that include: one in six workers is likely to be suffering from a mental health condition, it is good that mental and physical health at work has been rising on the agenda for many employers in the UK. Organisations depend on having a healthy and productive workforce. When people feel supported and valued they tend to be more committed, perform better and work towards shared goals.
How can you support mental health and wellbeing?
The first step is to recognise the importance of good mental health and wellbeing and prioritise it.
- Implement initiatives that are specific to the challenges of your workforce and demographics.
- Provide training on mental health awareness and how employees can manage their own mental health.
- Train managers on workplace wellbeing. This could include recognising the signs of stress and supporting staff experiencing mental health issues.
- Take away the stigma and have awareness-raising activities, this could be a lunch and learn or inviting an inspirational speaker to talk about wellbeing.
- Set up a network of mental health champions or coaches in the workplace, they should be responsible for or active in the mental health policy and promoting mental health and wellbeing in the organisation.
- Offer an employee assistance programme that gives employees access to telephone and/or face-to-face counselling, this needs to be well communicated and promoted to make sure that staff are aware that it is available to them and that there is uptake.
- Physical and mental health are closely linked. You could offer schemes such as cycling to work rewards, lunchtime walking groups, yoga sessions or free healthy breakfasts.
When we feel secure and supported in our jobs it can really boost our mental health, so it stands to reason that poor and insecure working conditions will undermine good mental health. Organisations that are proactive through the implementation of good mental health and wellbeing initiatives, will help to boost employee’s mental health and build a great place to work, driving engagement and productivity.