According to the Government’s Department of Health 1 in 4 of us will be affected by mental health problems each year including problems such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Wednesday 10th October 2018 is World Mental Health day. The objective of World Mental Health day is to raise awareness of mental health issues and encourage people to think about their own mental health and wellbeing.
A big factor in a person’s wellbeing is a healthy work environment. It is therefore very important that employers understand how to support employees who are suffering from mental health problems and how to encourage a positive mental health attitude at work. This was highlighted in a recent study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development which found that, for the first time, stress is the major cause of long-term absence in manual and non-manual workers. The study also found that an employee’s productivity and team working ability may be affected by mental health problems with findings showing that 62% take longer to do tasks and 37% are more likely to get into conflict with colleagues.
To help people in the workplace support mental health, ACAS have developed a new mental health framework which highlights the different roles for Employers, Managers and Individuals and how they can help work towards a positive environment. You can download the framework here.
ACAS also have many guides available on various topics related to mental health in the workplace including ‘Managing staff experiencing mental ill health’ and ‘Dealing with stress in the workplace’.
Richard Porter leads the Employment Law team at Thompson Smith and Puxon. If you need advice on an Employment matter, including mental health in the workplace, Richard can be contacted on 01206 217027 or by email at richard.porter@tsplegal.com.
