A staggering 89 per cent of employees feel uncomfortable discussing their mental health with their managers, according to a report from Business in the Community.
That figure is especially troubling, as approximately 1 in 4 people in the United Kingdom experience a mental health problem each year, according to the NHS. This costs UK employers between £33 billion and £42 billion each year, according to Deloitte.
Given the prevalence of mental health conditions and their profound effect on the workplace, it is essential that your organisation takes the necessary actions to address them. Recent research has even quantified the return on investment of mental health training, with an associated return of £9.98 for each pound spent. Regardless of your organisation’s size or industry, follow these six government ‘mental health core standards’ for employers:
- Produce, implement and communicate a mental health at work plan and include programmes that you will implement to achieve this goal.
- Develop mental health awareness among employees.
- Encourage open conversations about mental health and the support available when employees are struggling.
- Provide employees with good working conditions and ensure they have a healthy work-life balance and opportunities for development.
- Promote effective people management through line managers and supervisors.
Routinely monitor employee mental health and well-being.
For more information and advice on managing the varied risks within your business, contact Bollington's risk management team on 0161 929 1851.
