Insights

How to support mental health in your workplace

It’s the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, and we wanted to take this opportunity to talk to you about mental health in your workplace.

Mental health is our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. Our mental health can change over time and a variety of factors can impact it.

According to Gov UK, one in six people aged 16 or over experience symptoms of common mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety.

No matter the number of your employees, or the size of your business, mental health will play a part in your organisation. How can you support mental health in your workplace?

Mental health matters

Firstly, why should you make mental health a priority in the workplace?

It shows your team that their wellbeing is important to you. You can honour your duty of care as an employer. This means doing all that you reasonably can to support the mental health, safety and wellbeing of your employees. What does reasonable support look like?

Ensuring your work environment is safe
Protect your employees from discrimination
Carrying out risk assessments.

Creating a healthy work environment

Let’s explore creating a safe work environment, as your team should feel safe and healthy in their place of work.

Work can play a large factor in our mental health. HSE research showed that in the UK, work-related stress, depression or anxiety represented 50% of all work-related illness in 2020-21.

Work-related mental health conditions are often preventable. One of the most common conditions is stress. For more advice on handling work-related stress, you can read our blog on managing your employee’s stress

Remember it is not your place to give advice about mental health to your employees, but you can signpost them to where they can get support.

What resources can help your team?

If you are aware that an employee needs support with their mental health you can signpost them towards their GP or, if your organisation offers one, an employee assistance programme.

The Access to Work Mental Health Support Service is also available to anyone at work requiring support with their mental health. This provides up to nine months of cost-free support, with tailored plans to help employees to understand their condition and manage the impact it has on their performance at work.

We deliver this fully funded service on behalf of the DWP and can help you to understand how it works and to promote it within your organisation.

Your management style

How you manage your team can make a big difference to their mental health. CIPD suggested the following tips for managing workplace stress:

Get to know your team better
Lead by example to promote healthy working habits
Review workloads, duties and responsibilities
Reflect on your own management style
Discourage ‘presenteeism’ (people coming into work when they’re ill)
Manage the mental health of your team while remote working

A happy team is a thriving one. Making small changes can make a long-lasting impact in your workplace.

Improve team morale

As an employer, you’ll understand that your team is the important foundation your business builds itself on. Ensuring your team feel looked after in the workplace can help your team perform better. When you positively manage and support your employees’ mental health, you can help your staff perform to their potential. You’ll benefit from having a more productive, engaged and resilient workforce.

Help your business

How else does supporting mental health help your business?

According to Mind, ensuring you’re supporting mental health in the workplace can:

Increase productivity, efficiency and innovation
Increase profits and reduce business costs
Reduce sickness absence, presenteeism and staff turnover

The economic downturn has significantly impacted mental health, with many people across the country struggling to cope. Now, more than ever, it’s important to create an open and supportive workplace.

Stand out as an employer

Not only does looking after mental health help your current team, and your business, but it can also put you in a more secure position for your new hires. Mental health is taking more and more prominence for jobseekers, it’s an area where your business can enhance its reputation.

In an ever-increasingly competitive labour market, it’s important that your business stands out. If we look at the next generation of jobseekers – Gen Z – they are prepared to prioritise their mental health over their earnings.