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Mental health support at the workplace: why is it important?

19th Jun 2018
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Happy at work

Good mental health helps you manage whatever life throws at you. For this reason, businesses that are serious about retaining and recruiting top talent include mental health support in their benefits packages for new starters.

The importance of supporting wellbeing for businesses 

Job hunters no longer consider a competitive salary as the only reason for accepting a job. According to a survey by recruiting website Glassdoor, perks and benefits are among some of the main things job hunters consider before accepting a new job. Attracting talent in a competitive job market is a serious challenge for many organisations which are rethinking their recruiting strategy accordingly and now offer competitive benefits.

One of the benefits employees and job seekers looks for is wellbeing and mental health support which, according to another study by mental health charity Mind, would make six out of 10 employees feel more motivated at work.

In fact, according to the government report "No health without mental health", businesses could cut staffing costs by about a third by improving their management of mental health at work, which shows that effective mental health support in the workplace is as important for the business as it is for the employees. Failing to support employee's mental health is thought to cost British businesses as much as £30 billion a year through lost production, recruitment and absence (Source: ACAS). 

Your health and wellbeing at work

When stress caused by personal circumstances or the situation at the workplace persist, it can cause more serious problems such as depression or anxiety.
Depression and anxiety both affect the work of those who suffer them and those around them. Those suffering from these health problems may feel tired all the time, making it difficult for them to be enthusiastic about their job and focused on their tasks. Additionally, their negative mood also affects their co-workers, making the issue even more widespread.

Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP)

If you think you could be experiencing a mental health problem, find out if your company offers any type of support. Look for a mental health policy that provides support or an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). 

EAPs are offered by some employers to help employees deal with any work-related problems and personal issues that may affect their jobs. These programmes typically offer help and support with a variety of issues, including mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, addictions, and anger management.

EAP may be offered in-house (this is usually the case in large organisations) or externally via other providers in the case of smaller companies. EAP support is usually available via a telephone helpline or website and all the conversations are confidential, so your manager or employer won't be notified.

Your company may also do other things to encourage good mental health in the workplace, such as providing a healthy working environment, events and workshops that promote positive mental health, or staff wellbeing days.

What you can do

Unfortunately, according to a study released by the charity health@work more than a third of organisations don't offer strategies to support mental health. If that is the case of your employer, there are four steps you can follow to help yourself:

Take breaks

Don't skip breaks to get ahead of your workload as this can negatively affect your wellbeing and your productivity. Taking full lunch breaks will help you manage your stress levels and return to your desk with more energy.

Take holidays

Spending time away from work is necessary to help you rest and avoid mental and physical burn-out. Going on holiday will help reduce your stress and boost your productivity when you're back at your desk, so make sure you take your full holiday entitlement. 

Don't stay at work late

It might be inevitable from time to time. But staying at work after hours on a regular basis means you won't have time to do the things you enjoy.

Avoid taking work home

Establishing boundaries between work and home will help your wellbeing. If you still need to finish tasks and read your work emails at home, consider speaking to your manager or employer about your workload.

How CABA can help

Find out more useful information in our whitepaper The importance of holistic health & wellbeing at work. We have a range of resources about mental health by Mind, including the booklet How to be mentally healthy at work.

If you're an ICAEW member, ACA student or a member of their families, you can talk to us if you're experiencing issues at work or with your wellbeing. Call us on +44 (0) 1788 556 366 or chat to us online.

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