Mental health in the workplace
Jerome Smail, freelance journalist, researches the extent and implications of this important issue, and provides information as well as helpful guidance
M ental health is a key issue in society as a whole but one of the major battlegrounds is the workplace. In fact, two-thirds (66%) of workers have personally experienced mental ill-health, according to a study by professional services organisation Accenture. Although awareness surrounding mental health in the workplace is improving, misperceptions persist – as does an unnecessary stigma. Too many employees still feel uncomfortable about discussing or disclosing problems with their mental health. The same Accenture survey found that the majority (61%) of workers suffering from mental health problems have not spoken to anyone at work about their issues. What’s more, as many as 42% of employees call in sick claiming to be suffering from a physical illness when the real reason is a mental health issue,
problems including fears of not being promoted, poor grading in assessments or being seen as a weak link in the team. The study also found that over half of respondents (56%) suffered from stress, a third (36%) from anxiety and a quarter (25%) from depression, and yet nearly two-thirds (63%) of employees felt that mental health was stigmatised by either all or some of their colleagues. Dr Philip McCrea, chief medical officer at BHSF, says the scale of the problem is huge, and being massively underestimated by employers, with employees feeling they have to mask the issues they are facing. Dr McCrea says “Although shocking, these findings don’t surprise me. A more open culture must be created in workplaces across the UK, and employers have to take responsibility for this change.” While the BHSF research showed employees are taking time off for mental health issues, other research suggests that presenteeism is a problem, with many sufferers simply soldiering on. More than a fifth (22%) of employees went into work when feeling mentally unwell in 2017, according to research by Canada Life Group Insurance. Again, stigma appears
to be playing a part. A fifth (21%) of respondents admitted they are more likely to go into work when feeling unwell from a mental health problem rather than a physical illness, while 15% thought their boss and colleagues would not take them seriously if they took time off for a mental health issue. Ironically – although perhaps unsurprisingly – the workplace itself appears to be adding to mental health problems. As many as 88% of respondents to the Canada Life survey said work was either the main cause or a contributing factor to their mental health problems. However, only a fifth (21%) of employees received dedicated mental health support from their employer. Paul Avis, marketing director of Canada Life Group Insurance, believes mental health issues can be a vicious cycle for employees, fuelled by persistent presenteeism and the need to be ‘always on’. “Employees suffering from mental illness should be focusing on getting better, rather than struggling into the office, as the stress of work is unlikely to lead to an improvement in their overall condition,” he says. Of course, it’s in the interest of every business to look after the mental wellbeing of its employees, not just as a duty of care but also for the sake of its own effectiveness; the average employee takes 8.4 sick days each year due to a mental
according to a report by insurance organisation BHSF. In the study of
1,001 full-time employees, only 15% of employees said they would tell their boss if they were struggling with mental health issues, with reasons for not divulging
...fears of not being promoted, poor grading in assessments or being seen as a weak link in the team
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | July/August 2019 | Issue 52
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