How common are mental health problems?
In England, 1 in 6 people* report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week.
Are mental health problems increasing?
It is probably hard to measure whether the number of mental health problems has not increased. There may be an element of people feeling more comfortable about speaking about mental health issues.
Mental health in the workplace?
Employees are increasingly declaring and sharing their mental health issues with their employers. With the view that their employer is willing and able to support them. Even if employers want to help, they often don’t know how to. At Emphasis we are often asked for advice on how to manage mental health in the workplace.
Every situation is unique and different, and we would always want to discuss any mental health issue in more detail before suggesting an approach.
How can it be a positive experience?
In many cases, with patience and understanding, a potentially difficult situation can be turned into a positive one.
We were asked to help with a warehouse worker who had been on long term sick with depression and agoraphobia. He hadn’t left his house in months, was physically shaking and found it hard to speak.
In liaison with his GP, we facilitated his return to work on a very gradual basis. The first step was to get to go to his normal place for work. After we discussed this with him, he felt it would be useful if a work colleague whom he was friendly with could come out and meet him, although at this stage he didn’t feel able to enter the building.
The next stage after this was for him to visit the canteen and to chat to a few people. We then built this up to him working one afternoon a week. Over several months, this increased to five afternoons a week. He felt at this time he had reached his limit and wanted to stay at this level. He was earning enough to support his family but not pushing himself beyond his limits.
He remained working afternoons for another year, was a hard-working, well-liked and conscientious employee. He then asked to work full time and this was agreed. He is now happy, healthy and an excellent member of his team. From our experience this has been one of the more successful examples of how mental health can be managed effectively in the workplace.
Useful interventions
Any of the following will help support an employee with mental health concerns:
- face-to-face meetings. See and understand the issues facing the employee, in their own words
- having a sickness policy in place to follow allowing home visits, return to work interviews, phased return to work and a description of reasonable adjustments for both the employee and their manager to be aware of
- training and awareness of mental health issues for managers so they can develop their awareness and understanding
If you want some help with employees with mental health issues contact us on 01794 874232
