Mental health has become a major concern as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic , which has affected almost everyone – both personally and professionally . The stress of this alone is now being recognised , alongside other upsetting and inescapable global issues .
To add to this , our personal lives are often busy and conflicted , with access to support services currently limited due to pressure on both supply and demand . Pressure at work can further escalate levels of stress and anxiety .
It ’ s inevitable that the effects of mental ill-health will have an impact on the workplace . It ’ s estimated to cost UK employers up to £ 45 billion each year ( Deloitte 2020 ) and affects attendance , performance , turnover and presenteeism . Approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental illness each year and the largest causes of sickness absence for our country ’ s workforce are depression , stress and anxiety .
‘ The largest causes of sickness absence for our country ’ s workforce are depression , stress and anxiety '
People don ' t always realise they ’ re mentally ill and , even when they do , they may be unsure how to seek help , or be unwilling to do so . There ’ s still a stigma around poor mental health , making it more difficult for people to discuss it . Managers can also be uncertain about how to intervene and support an employee who may be struggling with a mental-health challenge .
Employers have a duty of care to ensure their employees work in a safe environment and this includes measures to ensure risks of mental harm are managed , as well as risks of physical harm .
The Health and Safety Executive produces guidance on six areas of work associated with poor mental health if not properly managed : demands , control , support , relationships , role , and change . These are known as the Management Standards .
An increasingly popular intervention in the workplace has been the implementation of mental-health first aiders . These are employees who undergo a short training session on how to recognise the early signs and symptoms of common mental-health conditions found in the workplace .
Trained mental-health first aiders support colleagues and guide them to professional help if required . Promoting a greater awareness of mental health in the workplace is another important part of the role .
There are many organisations that deliver mental-health first aid training . Their aims are usually to :
• Provide information on mental health
• Develop skills in spotting signs , symptoms and triggers
• Develop confidence in talking to colleagues with symptoms
• Provide signposting to extra support
• Develop safeguarding skills for those supporting others
Research by the Health and Safety Executive on the impact of having trained mental-health first aiders in the workplace revealed mixed results . Positive effects of the training included raising employees ’ awareness of mental-health conditions , and providing a better understanding of where to find information and professional support .
However , although employees were more confident about helping individuals who were experiencing mental ill health or a crisis , the presence of mentalhealth first aiders did not appear to have influenced any changes to the management of mental health in the workplace ( HSE 2018 ).
On balance , having members of staff who have undertaken some training to help and support employees experiencing mental-health challenges might be something to consider in your workplace . Training courses are usually short ( one or two days ), with some tailored specifically to supervisors and managers .
VOL 38 • July 2022
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