Information and Support

• 'Workplace mental health and wellbeing; the elephant in the room' - An article written by Wayne Goodwin, looks at the growing issue in business and what we can do to help ourselves and others.
• Thriving at Work: a review of mental health and employers - An independent review of mental health and employers by Lord Dennis Stevenson and Paul Farmer. 'The cost to UK employers because of poor mental health is estimated as being between £33 billion and £42 billion a year.' 
• ACAS Guide: Promoting positive mental health in the workplace - a comprehensive guide looking at 'musts'and 'shoulds' of organisations regarding provisions and training for mental health and wellbeing in the workplace

A recent Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development study highlighted the impact that mental ill health can have on organisations. The study found that:

• 37% of sufferers are more likely to get into conflict with colleagues
• 57% find it harder to juggle multiple tasks
• 80% find it difficult to concentrate
• 62% take longer to do tasks
• 50% are potentially less patient with customers/clients.

Fundemntal Facts About Mental Health surveys in 2015and 2016 found that; 

• In 2014, 19.7% of people in the UK aged 16 and older showed symptoms of anxiety or depression
• Nearly half (43.4%) of adults think that they have had a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life (35.2% of men and 51.2% of women).
• A fifth of men (19.5%) and a third of women (33.7%) have had diagnoses confirmed by professionals.
• One in six (17%) of people over the age of 16 had a common mental health problem in the week prior to being interviewed.
• In 2014, 17.5% of working-age adults (16--64 years old) had symptoms of common mental health problems.
• Mental illness is the largest single cause of disability in our society and costs the English economy at least £77 billion a year.

• A guide to promoting mental health in the workplace
• Mindful Employer - a UK-wide, NHS initiative aimed at increasing awareness of mental health at work and providing support for businesses in recruiting and retaining staff. For more information, go to mindfulemployer.net or call 01392 677064
• Business in the Community - a network committed to ensuring that age, gender, race and wellbeing do not limit an employee's engagement and success in the workplace. It provides toolkits on Mental Health, Suicide prevention and Suicide postvention to help employers support the mental health and wellbeing of employees. 
• Time to change - can help organisations develop an action plan and set objectives and activities that will be undertaken to achieve them. 
• Employee Assistance Programmes - can provide round-the-clock support for staff dealing with personal problems that might adversely impact their job performance, health, and wellbeing. This includes issues such as relationship problems, money worries and other pressures. An employer can join an EAP for a fee. 
• Mental Health First Aid England - offers courses that can help managers and/or HR staff identify, understand and help a person who may be experiencing mental ill health. 

• Access to work can provide advice and an assessment of workplace needs for individuals, with disabilities or long-term health conditions, who are already in work or about to start. Grants may be available to help cover the cost of workplace adaptations that enable an employee to carry out their job without being at a disadvantage. These might be used to pay the costs of adapting equipment or buying special equipment for the employee, the cost of getting to work if they cannot use public transport and/or disability awareness training for colleagues. 
• Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. Their helpline and website provide information and support to empower anyone experiencing mental ill health and general advice on mental health-related law. For more information call 0300 123 3393
• NHS choices has a website that offers information and practical advice for anyone experiencing mental ill health. 
• Remploy offers a free and confidential Workplace Mental Health Support Service for anyone absent from work or finding work difficult because of a mental health condition. It aims to help people remain in, or return to, their role. For more information call 0300 4568114
• Rethink Mental Illness is the largest national voluntary sector provider of mental health services, offering support groups, advice and information on mental health problems. For more information call 0300 5000 927.

• Acas website provides information and guidance to help support and manage staff experiencing mental ill health. 
• Wellness Action Plans can provide a practical way for a manager to support the mental health of their team members. They can be used to help identify when a team member may be experiencing mental ill health and what support to offer during these periods. Mental health charity Mind have guides on creating Wellness Action Plans. For more information call 0300 123 3393
• Additional help may be available from groups where the employer is a member. For example, if an employer is a member of the Confederation of British Industry or the Federation of Small Businesses, they could seek its help and guidance.