Mental health affects us all differently and it`s important to speak to someone about it.
Did you know one in four people in the UK has a mental health problem at some point ?
While mental health problems are common, most are mild, tend to be short-term and are normally successfully treated with medication prescribed by a GP. If you are under medication due to mental health problems, you should advise your workplace.
Mental health is about how we think, feel and behave. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems. They are often a reaction to a difficult life event, such as bereavement, but can also be caused by work-related issues caused by stress.
Work can also aggravate pre-existing conditions, and problems at work can bring on symptoms or make their effects worse.
Whether work is causing the health issue or aggravating it, employers have a legal responsibility to help their employees. Work-related mental health issues must be assessed to measure the levels of risk to staff. Where a risk is identified, steps must be taken to remove it or reduce it as far as reasonably practicable. Each company should have a stress and metal health policy bought to the attention of employees and if/when needed, stress risk assessment conducted.
Some employees may have a pre-existing physical or mental health condition when recruited or may develop one caused by factors that are not work-related factors.
Are you familiar with the “Core Standard” ?
Core Standard includes the following recommendations that employers of all sizes can and should put in place in the workplace:
- Produce, implement and communicate a mental health at work plan that promotes good mental health of all employees and outlines the support available for those who may need it this can be done through encouraging posters and messages during meetings etc.
- Develop mental health awareness among employees by making information, tools and support accessible. The Company may choose to have an appointed person trained in Mental Health Awareness who can identify any concerns at early stages and discuss any concerns with the relevant person as well as offer adequate guidance.
- Encourage open conversations about mental health and the support available when employees are struggling, during the recruitment process and at regular intervals throughout employment, offer appropriate workplace adjustments to employees who require them. This can be also stipulated in your workplace Stress Policy bought to the attention of employees.
- Provide employees with good working conditions and ensure they have a healthy work life balance and opportunities for development.
- Promote effective people management to ensure all employees have a regular conversation about their health and well-being with their line manager, supervisor or organisational leader and train and support line managers and supervisors in effective management practices.
- Routinely monitor employee mental health and wellbeing by understanding available data, talking to employees, and understanding risk factors.
The core standards have been designed to help employers improve the mental health of their workplace and enable individuals with mental health conditions to thrive.
Work-related stress and mental health problems often go together and the symptoms can be very similar.
Work-related stress can aggravate an existing mental health problem, making it more difficult to control.
Common mental health problems and stress can exist independently – people can experience work-related stress and physical changes such as high blood pressure, without having anxiety, depression or other mental health problems. They can also have anxiety and depression without experiencing stress. The key differences between them are their cause(s) and the way(s) they are treated.
Stress is a reaction to events or experiences in someone`s home life, work life or a combination of both. Common mental health problems can have a single cause outside work, for example bereavement, divorce, postnatal depression, a medical condition or a family history of the problem. But people can have these sorts of problems with no obvious causes.
As an employer, you can help manage and prevent stress and mental health in the workplace by improving working conditions, encourage all employees to discuss any concerns or conditions which may affect them whilst at work.
If you are an employee, we encourage you to discuss any concerns with your line manager or your mental health appointed person who can offer the appropriate guidance.
DON’T wait until it’s too late! Speak to someone and ask for help!
If you need any assistance conducting a stress and mental health policy, stress related risk assessment or even Mental Health Awareness Training for a designated person within your organisation, MBO is here to help.
Source of Information: 1 In 4 People In The UK Suffer From Mental Health Issues – Mental Health Midlands