MENTAL HEALTH – WHY MOST EMPLOYERS ARE STILL NOT DOING ENOUGH


If it isn’t already, mental health and well-being should be high on your agenda. Many employers have pledged their commitment to promoting positive mental health in the workplace. However, what does all this actually mean in practice and are you doing enough?


MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN THE WORKPLACE Dealing with mental health issues at work can be difficult. Employees who are suffering from mental health issues will not always come to their employer with their problem neatly labelled; indeed they might not even know that they are suffering from a mental health condition. ACAS guidance on mental health has placed a raft of training, awareness and documentation responsibilities on employers to:


n Develop an action plan to change attitudes; n Create a mental health policy setting out its values; n Train managers and ensure they champion awareness and fight stigma; n Tackle work-related causes of mental health problems; and n Educate the workforce. This guidance is likely to be taken into account by an employment tribunal if things go wrong.


WHAT CAN AN EMPLOYER DO TO COMPLY WITH ITS RESPONSIBILITIES? Encouraging an open dialogue around mental health is key. Awareness initiatives can be helpful here as can the use of mental health champions and mental health first aiders. Mental health first aiders are trained to act as a first point of contact, to understand how to hold supportive conversations and how to identify the signs and symptoms for a range of mental health conditions.


In light of the government’s manifesto pledge to change the law to put mental and physical first aid on an equal footing it may well become compulsory for organisations to have mental health first aiders and many businesses are training first aiders now.


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Diversity, Inclusion and Workplace Behaviours – The Business Agenda


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