How to support Mental Health in the workplace

This World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2022), the World Health Organisation is launching a campaign to make mental health & well-being for all a global priority.

At ClearTalents, our focus is on workplace well-being.

  • 79% of British workers feel stressed every month
  • Close to half (46%) of UK workers are close to burnout
  • In 2020/21, an estimated 822,000 workers were affected by work-related stress, depression or anxiety.
  • In 2020/21, work-related stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 50% of all work-related ill health.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, nearly one in seven of us has experience of mental illness. 12.7 per cent of all sick days in the UK can be attributed to mental illness, while it’s estimated that better mental-health support could save UK businesses £8bn every year.

Mental health tips for the workplace

ClearTalents supports employers and employees in looking after their mental well-being.

Employees can create a diversity profile that includes talking about their mental health to enable employers to make reasonable adjustments.

Here are some tips to support employees with their mental well-being at work:

1. Flexible working policy

Covid-19 prompted an almost overnight switch to flexible and home-based working. For some employees, the shift has led to a better work-life balance. A pre-pandemic survey, albeit a small one, found that 39% of those who had shifted to flexible working had better mental health.

A study by Kingston University on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that workers on flexible contracts tended to be more emotionally engaged, more satisfied with their work, more likely to speak positively about their organisation and less likely to quit.

However, there are downsides to flexible working. Some people may feel disconnected, and there’s also evidence that reasonable adjustments made in the office haven’t transferred to the home office or flexible working environments.

Other studies show a greater risk of burnout for remote workers, so it’s vital to keep a conversation going about how employees are doing.

  • Contact us to find out how ClearTalents can build a dialogue with your teams

2. Foster an inclusive workplace

You can embrace a diverse workforce, but if employees don’t have the right tools, the workplace won’t be truly inclusive. When the workplace is inclusive, everyone benefits, including in terms of mental health.

3. Apps for workplace well-being

There are apps for well-being which you could recommend to your employees (note we haven’t tested the apps, and they are no substitute for seeking support from a medical professional).

Happify: The Happify App focuses on ways to feel happier. You’ll need to sign-up. There are different tracks that you can follow, such as one on how to get a better night’s sleep. Some are free but be aware that there are in-app purchases.

The app is available to download for iOS and Android.

Headspace: Headspace is an app to support people with meditation and sleep. There is a 14-day free trial, followed by a subscription.

Moodistory: This mood tracker app enables you to track your app over a period using simple icons. The aim is that you can create journal entries quickly and identify behaviour patterns.

It works with iOS and is compatible with the Apple Watch.

NHS: The NHS lists several well-being apps on its website.

ClearTalents allows employees to create a free diversity profile that includes the opportunity for them to disclose details of their mental health.

4. Encourage regular breaks

We’re more productive when we look after ourselves, and regular breaks can help to prevent burnout. Encourage staff to take regular breaks. It’s important to have breaks from working on a computer screen and from continuous typing and other repetitive tasks.

Maybe make a point of getting people to reclaim their lunch break. You could even introduce some team activities together or remotely and build connections.

5. It’s okay, not to be okay

Encourage a conversation about mental health at work. Let people know that it’s OK not to be OK and that they can have a conversation about it.

  • Contact us to find out how ClearTalents can encourage a conversation about mental health in the workplace

Pre- and Post-holidays can be a time of stress. Read our tips on reducing it.

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