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Join Monday Evening Clubs To Talk About Your Mental Health
Housebuilder Genesis Homes has thrown its weight behind a mental health charity that has 150 club locations around the UK where men can come and talk on a...
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Working Minds Is Working Well
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has become the latest partner on the Working Minds campaign which is booming since it was launched to tackle work-related stress in the construction sector.
The campaign was launched a year ago by the Health & Safety Executive whose figures show of the 1.7m workers suffering from a work-related illness, almost half (822,000) were suffering from stress, depression or anxiety.
Construction is one of the priority sectors that are being targeted by the campaign.
Mental health in the workplace
The HSE’s Working Minds campaign encourages employers to start to tackle work-related stress and to talk to their staff and take steps to support employees with their mental health in the workplace.
There are a number of partners including Mates in Mind, the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA). With IOSH now signed up it means the number of partners has more than doubled to 19 since Working Minds was founded.
Legal duties
The HSE’s research highlighted that many employers are unaware of their legal duties or how to spot the signs of stress. In response, Working Minds looked to develop networks to promote those duties by encouraging employers and workers across all sectors of the economy to sign up as campaign champions. There are 1,000 champions already.
“When we launched Working Minds a year ago, we were under no illusion that stress, anxiety and depression were on the rise in the UK”
– Liz Goodwill
Head of the work-related stress and mental health policy team, Health & Safety Executive
Psychosocial risks are the same as physical risks
“Our aim was to ensure psychosocial risks are treated the same as physical ones; that employers recognise their legal duty to prevent work-related stress to support good mental health in the workplace; and that they have the tools they need to achieve this,” adds the HSE’s Goodwill.
“Now, at a time when we have major challenges facing the country – leading to stressors both inside and outside of the workplace – welcoming new partners extends our reach and helps get our messages to businesses. That is why IOSH joining Working Minds is so important - these challenges can only be tackled successfully by working together - as organisations, as businesses, as teams.”
Time to talk?
Ruth Wilkinson at IOSH, says: “Our work can have an impact on our mental health, both positively or negatively, so decent work and good working environments are important. Employers can therefore play a key role in prevention, through good risk management, raising awareness, training people to spot the signs and symptoms of stress and by providing interventions to support colleagues. But a 2019 IOSH report revealed 80% of workers wouldn’t discuss their mental health with their line manager because they feared being stigmatised or judged incapable.”
Sarah Bolton for the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, says: “One of our biggest challenges is the cost-of-living crisis. By working together we can increase the resources and support that people can access. If you are struggling, please reach out for support – we're always here to help.”
Peter Crosland for CECA says: “It would appear from the stats that the situation is getting worse, not better. We need everyone in construction to understand that they have a duty to health, safety and wellbeing at the start of every project.”
Sarah Meek for Mates in Mind Charity, says: “A lot of employers are still unaware of their legal obligation around mental health, especially around work-related stress. The focus needs to be on prevention right across a company rather than focusing on a crisis. It’s everyone's business, so start those conversations early and talk about it proactively to change that culture and break down barriers around stigma.”
Cost and ROI
The total annual cost of poor mental health to employers has increased by 25% since 2019, costing UK employers up to £56 billion a year – according to a report by Deloitte. Figures show employers can see a return of £5.30 on average for every £1 invested in mental health.
Picture: The Working Minds campaign is booming after one year since its launch.
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
25th November 2022