Are you looking after the mental health of your employees this Blue Monday?

Today is Blue Monday, and while its concept has been criticised for its lack of scientific validity, it does offer an opportunity to consider what you're doing to protect the mental health of your workforce. 

With 776,000 workers suffering from work related stress, depression or anxiety in 2023/2024, it is more important than ever to protect, not only the physical health of your employees, but also their mental health.

The main causes of work-related stress, depression or anxiety, according to self-reports from the Labour Force Survey are workload, too much work or too much pressure/responsibility. Other contributing factors identified included a lack of managerial support, violence and bullying, and role uncertainty.

What is the impact?

• Legal duty – As with any other health and safety hazard at work, employers have a duty to assess work-related mental health issues and measure the levels of risk to staff. Where a risk is identified, steps must be taken to remove or reduce the risk as far as reasonably practicable.
• HSE Enforcement Action – In HSE's 2024/2025 business plan, HSE state they will be developing practical steps for all workplaces that help employers to prevent exposing employees to issues causing work-related stress. HSE will also be developing an approach to inspecting practical measures which they think are sustainable and preventative for higher risk businesses.
• Business efficiency There was an estimated 16.4 million working days lost in 2023/2024 due to the work-related stress, depression or anxiety. A healthier workforce will reduce the time lost to illness.
• Greater staff retention – Employees are more likely to be loyal when a business demonstrates strong commitment to their wellbeing.
• ESG/Responsible business Investors are increasingly considering a company's exposure to ESG risks when screening investment opportunities. Managing mental wellbeing increases the social sustainability of a business. 

What can you do to help?

• Risk assessment – ensure mental health is considered in risk assessments and any risks which are identified are addressed. HSE have a set of management standards which assist in identifying the risk factors relevant to your organisation e.g. workload, support. 
• Mental health at work plan – implement and communicate a mental health at work plan that promotes good mental health, outlines the support available and addresses any specific risks identified.
• Monitor and review - the action plan should be regularly monitored to ensure the agreed actions are being implemented and evaluated to ensure the solutions implemented are effective.
• Mental health awareness - ensure information, tools and support are accessible.
• Management standards – HSE's management standards approach is one way of adopting an approach that is considered by HSE to be considered suitable and sufficient.

If you would like assistance with your approach to managing mental health risks in the workplace, please get in touch with Nathan Peacey or Tamzin Robson.