A majority of UK employers say they are expected to do more to help employees experiencing poor mental health, according to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England research.
Some 88% of employers believe they should be doing more to support workplace mental health amid an independent UK government-commissioned review that ill health is the most significant driver of economic inactivity in the UK, costing employers £85bn a year. The Keep Britain Working Review calls for earlier intervention to help people remain healthy and in work, though MHFA England says employers need more support to achieve that.
Only a little more than a third of employers (37%) say they have a comprehensive approach to mental health provision in their workplace, while 33% say they have seen an employee take a long-term sickness absence due to poor mental health over the past 12 months, MHFA England research shows.
Another 25% say they have seen an employee leave for the same reason. In those instances, 74% of respondents said more effective workplace support could have helped those employees stay in their role, while 86% of employers believe a clear set of workplace mental health first aid standards would help their organisations develop a more consistent approach to workplace support.
Sarah McIntosh, CEO of MHFA England, said: “The latest Keep Britain Working update rightly identifies tackling workplace health as a major growth opportunity for the UK. Too often, support for employees experiencing poor mental health comes only after someone has reached crisis point or left work.
“Creating psychologically safe workplaces where people can talk openly about their mental health, without fear of stigma, is essential if we are to improve retention, narrow participation gaps and help more people and businesses thrive.”
McIntosh says MHFA England is planning to create the UK’s first workplace mental health first aid standards to help employers improve workplace culture and mental health wellbeing.
She added: “Employers have a vital role to play in early intervention. Good mental health support can be the difference between someone staying in or falling out of work, but it’s clear from our latest research that many need clearer guidance on what good support looks like.”
The research was based on an online survey of 1,000 employers in England conducted in early September.
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