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Half of employees do not feel supported to discuss their mental health at work, People Management poll finds

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Summary

A recent poll by People Management has found that half of employees do not feel supported to discuss their mental health at work, and only 37% feel they do. The poll comes after companies were accused of 'mental health washing', meaning they promote its importance but do not have policies to match. Debra Clark, head of wellbeing at Towergate Health & Protection, said the main barrier to mental health support is the stigma that still exists. Additional research by Towergate Health & Protection found that 54% of companies provide mental health support, but this varies by industry and company size. Ross O’Brien, UK managing director of mental health tech firm Wysa, said employers should signpost and support employees to get the help they need. This would not only benefit the individual and the organization, but also wider society.

Q&As

What percentage of employees do not feel supported to discuss their mental health at work?
49% of employees do not feel supported to discuss their mental health at work.

What was said about the "biggest barrier" to organisations doing more to support their people with mental health conditions?
The "biggest barrier" to organisations doing more to support their people with mental health conditions is the stigma that still exists.

What percentage of companies provide support for their employees' mental health and wellbeing?
54% of companies provide support for their employees' mental health and wellbeing.

What is the role of HR in tackling the UK's labour shortage?
The role of HR in tackling the UK's labour shortage is to invest in upskilling existing employees and automation.

What is the role of HR in supporting employees with mental health challenges?
The role of HR in supporting employees with mental health challenges is to signpost and support their staff to get the help they need.

AI Comments

👍 It is encouraging to see employers taking steps to support their employees in discussing and managing their mental health. It is great to see initiatives like this help to reduce the stigma of mental health in the workplace.

👎 This article highlights that there is still a long way to go in providing adequate mental health support in the workplace. It is concerning that many employees still do not feel comfortable discussing their mental health at work.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about how half of employees don't feel supported to discuss their mental health in the workplace. It's really concerning because it means that there's still a lot of stigma and barriers preventing people from talking openly about their mental health at work.

Friend: That's really concerning. It's not just an issue of stigma, but of access to support as well. Companies should be doing more to make sure that employees have access to mental health support, and that they are creating an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health.

Me: Absolutely. It's really important that employers are role-modeling positive mental health practices and creating a culture where employees feel supported. It's also important that companies are providing resources for employees to access mental health support, such as mental health apps or employee assistance programs.

Action items

Educate senior leaders on the importance of mental health in the workplace and the need to create a supportive environment for employees to discuss their mental health.
Develop policies and procedures to ensure employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health and have access to resources and support.
Encourage open dialogue and role modelling from senior leaders to create a culture of acceptance and understanding around mental health in the workplace.

Technical terms

Mental Health: A person's emotional and psychological well-being.
Mental Health Washing: Promoting the importance of mental health without having policies to match it.
Stigma: A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.
Role Modeling: Setting an example for others to follow.
Tick-Box Exercise: A task that requires a person to check off items on a list.
Collaborative Approach: Working together with others to achieve a common goal.
Upskilling: Improving the skills of existing employees.
Discrimination: Unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice.
Appreciative Inquiry: A method of organizational development that focuses on the positive aspects of an organization.