Next week is Mental Health Awareness week (14 – 20 May 2018) so what better time to reflect on the last 12 months which have seen much positive activity in the field of supporting mental health in the workplace.
October 2017 saw two comprehensive publications issued: the ACAS guidance “Promoting positive mental health in the workplace” and the Stevenson / Farmer review of mental health and employers, “Thriving at work”.
The ACAS guidance focuses on the need for employers and managers to understand mental health and tackle the stigma that is too often associated with it. The guidance offers practical pointers to employers, including recommending that organisations develop an action plan to change attitudes, create a mental health policy and train managers to deal with mental ill health.
The Stevenson / Farmer review highlighted that the UK faces significant mental health at work challenges. There are more people at work than ever before with mental health challenges and people are losing their jobs at a much higher rate for mental versus physical health reasons. Understandably, the Government looks set to take action to ensure employers play their part in tackling the issue, and organisations would be well advised now to get ahead of the curve with their practices. There is a strong commercial case to do so too: research shown in the review demonstrates a consistent positive return on financial investments in improving mental health in the workplace.
We work with clients to deliver training to managers to deal with mental health in the workplace and to assist with developing wellbeing strategies and mental health policies. If you would like to discuss how we may be able to support your organisation, please get in touch. Additionally, if the topic of this blog is of interest to you, then please join our complimentary webinar on 22 May 2018, 2 – 3pm. For further information and to register please click here.