Mental health challenges affect us all
One in six people in the past week experienced a common mental health problem[1]. That's a statistic we can't escape. And when you look at the current lockdown situation, it's hardly surprising work is a significant contributor. You've got workforces up and down the country facing the challenge of remote working, coupled with increased stress, anxiety, and confusion.
As well as having an impact on your employees, mental wellbeing issues can also impact on you as an employer. Companies can suffer lost productivity, decreased motivation, and increased long-term absence. The 2020 CIPD and Simplyhealth Health and Wellbeing at Work report found that 59% of the UK's long-term absence is caused by mental ill-health and three-fifths of organisations have seen an increase in reported mental ill-health over the past 12 months.
The CIPD Report 2020 has emphasised the importance of having line managers and senior leaders engaged in an organisation’s efforts to manage stress[2]. At Simplyhealth, we've come up with a list of signs to look out for in your workplace, and actions to help support your colleagues who are battling a mental health illness.