WHY THE WORKPLACE IS A GREAT PLACE TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH

Despite the rise in workplaces increasing their focus on employee mental health (81% increase since the pandemic), 36% of companies still take a more reactive approach, rather than a proactive one.[1]

Did you know that 1 in 6 of us will experience a mental health issue at work this week?  Did you also know that 45% of those experiencing this issue will not let anyone at work know what’s going on? [2]

This prevalence of mental ill health in the workplace has led to 50% of employees having experienced at least one characteristic of burn out due to greater job demands and expectations, lack of social interaction and lack of boundaries between work and home life and almost half of UK workers (46%) say they’ve worked in recent months despite not feeling physically or mentally well enough to perform their duties. [3]

As well as the human cost of these issues going on untreated, there is a huge financial cost to employers.

Mental ill health costs UK employers approximately £56 billion each year. [3]

• Annual cost of presenteeism: approx. £28 billion
• Annual cost of staff turnover: approx. £22 billion
• Annual cost of absenteeism: approx. £6 billion

 The total annual cost of mental ill health to employers have increased by 25% since 2019.  However, for every £1 spent by employers on mental health interventions, employers could get back £5.30 in reduced absence, presenteeism, and staff turnover. [3]

 The cost of presenteeism is a significant problem. By understanding the impact poor mental health can have on presenteeism, we can ensure a thriving and productive workforce.

Our mental health is constantly changing, and any movement away from mental health towards issues or illnesses can be as debilitating as changes in our physical health. Both impact our ability to do what we could, should, or want to do, and affects our performance at work. Yet mental health issues are often overlooked.

 We want to help you improve both employee engagement and business performance and if mental health is considered in alignment with business goals, it can help companies identify issues early, help them act upon them and reduce their impact, so that people and the organisations they work for, can continue to thrive and be productive.

 There has been extensive research undertaken into the most effective settings for a mental health intervention, and the workplace remains as one of the best. [2]

So now is the time to ask yourself:

• Does your organisation have a good mental health policy?
• Do you have well trained, mental health first aiders that can identify those in crisis and help guide them towards support?
• Would you like to untap the benefits of a healthy workplace?
• Would you like to create a positive workplace culture?
• Would you like to be trained so that you are prepared to help others in their time of need?

Our Mental Health First Aid Course and Mental Health Awareness courses can help you unlock the significant social and financial benefits of positive employee mental health. We’ve helped individuals and businesses do this, and we’re also supporting the UK Mental Health Foundation, by collecting donations for their Green Pin badge campaign.

For a full list of our courses, please see our website – https://keyperformancetraining.co.uk/first-aid-training/#

Sources:

[1] CIPD health and wellbeing at work survey (2022)

[2] UK Mental Health Foundation

[3] Deloitte UK Mental Health Report (2022)

[4] CIPD good work index (2022)