Rethinking attitudes towards workplace mental health

Workplace Mental Health

Mental Health Awareness Week 2019 is Monday 13 – Sunday 19 May.

This year we’re encouraging our customers to  rethink their attitude towards mental health in the workplace.

Mental health conditions, work and the workplace

 

In the UK, one in four people will have a mental health problem at some point in their life.

This means that mental health issues are incredibly common, although most are mild and tend to be short-term and are usually successfully treated with medication and/or therapy.

Mental health issues are sometimes a reaction to difficult circumstances or life events.

One of these circumstances can often be stress at work.

As a result, people can develop mental health problems, most commonly anxiety and/or depression.

Despite the fact that many people will at some point in their life suffer from a mental health issue, there is still a stigma attached to mental health.

It is incredibly important that employers take steps to challenge the work-related causes of stress in its organisations and encourage staff to seek help at the earliest opportunity and ensure staff get the support they need as soon as possible.

Reducing work-related stress

According to Mental Health Foundation Guide, a total 12.1% of the UK’s total GDP have or have had mental health problems at work.

Despite the high stats, many people who experience distress try to keep their feelings hidden, even though it’s proven that its an important step forward to face mental health issues.

The Mental Health Foundation highly recommend to promote speaking about mental health at work to reduce work-related stress and decrease the employee absenteeism and presenteeism feelings.

Furthermore employers have a legal responsibility and duty of care, to ensure that they are making adequate steps to reduce work-related stress and maintain a reasonable standard of health throughout their company.

What are the signs of mental health issues?

 

  • Changes in the person’s usual behaviour, mood or how they interact with colleagues.
  • Changes in the standard of their work or their focus on their tasks.
  • Appearing tired, anxious or withdrawn and reduced interest in tasks that they may have previously enjoyed at work.
  • An increase in absences and/ or turning up late to work.

To find out more about mental health at work and what you can do to get involved with Mental Health Awareness week visit Mental Health Foundation website.

CiC offer a wide range of employee wellbeing services to support your people at home and at work.

Get in touch with one of our specialists today to discuss how we can help reduce the cost of mental health on our business.