As we approach Mental Health Awareness Week, which this year focuses on the theme of ‘anxiety’, this article discusses the benefits of supporting mental health in the workplace by investing in an employee wellbeing programme.
Anxiety is an emotion all of us experience, and it’s normal to feel worried or anxious in certain situations. However, sometimes these feelings can spiral out of control and impact a person’s ability to carry on with their normal daily life.
Research shows that:
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- In England, 6 in 100 people will be diagnosed with a generalised anxiety disorder (having regular or uncontrollable worries about many different things in everyday life), in any given week (Mind)
- Over 8 million people in the UK experience an anxiety disorder at any one time (Mental Health UK)
- In 2021/22 there were 914,000 reported cases of work-related stress, depression or anxiety (Health and Safety Executive)
Various events in our lives such as work demands, losing a job, relationships etc can lead to a fight or flight response. Recent events have also left many worrying about their financial wellbeing with some people struggling to meet basic needs such as heating bills and food shopping. The anxiety caused can affect an employee’s mental health and wellbeing, which in turn can lead to poor performance or periods of absence. Unsurprisingly, this is becoming a major concern for employers.
Employers have a duty of care to protect the mental health of their employees, as much as their physical health, and there is also a strong financial incentive to do so with reduced presenteeism, absenteeism and staff turnover.
As an employer or line manager, it is not always clear how to tackle these issues, but a good wellbeing programme will enable an organisation to create an environment where employees can meet their physical, mental, financial and social needs.
Our Health, Safety & Wellbeing Consultant Joanne Howley is an accredited Mental Health First Aider who can help your organisation develop an Employee Wellbeing programme which suits the needs and budget of your business. Jo is an accredited Coach and NLP Master Practitioner and has over 30 years’ experience supporting people through coaching and leadership development, along with experience in people management, mentoring and change management.
Our Employee Wellbeing services include:
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- Mental Health & Wellbeing Awareness: Training sessions for both managers and employees, designed to remove the stigma surrounding mental health issues and encourage open conversation, helping your organisation to develop a culture that values employee wellbeing and improves overall business performance.
- Wellbeing Audits: The audit looks at how your organisation is performing and highlights any gaps in your wellbeing strategy. A report is provided along with recommendations to develop your organisation’s overall approach to wellbeing.
- Wellbeing Days: Wellbeing days can be provided in house or at an external venue and are designed to give employees time and space to focus on their individual wellbeing and experience using a range of tools and techniques to promote physical and mental health.
- Employee Coaching: Working closely with individuals to build bespoke development interventions which will help them achieve their goals in all areas of their life, from career to relationships, and health and wellbeing to work-life balance. Coaching can be designed around various topics such as return to work, stress management, goal development, and can be provided in either individual or group sessions.
We can also help your organisation develop a Wellbeing Strategy that will positively impact on the mental and physical health of your workforce and thereby help improve overall business performance.
If you’re an employer and would like further information with regards to our Employee Wellbeing services, or have any other HR, Employment Law or Health, Safety & Wellbeing issues, please contact us on 01942 727200 or email enquiries@employeemanagement.co.uk for an initial consultation without charge or obligation.