The financial burden on employers due to employees’ poor mental health is increasing. It is estimated that the UK loses £5 billion annually.
Mental health significantly affects workplace productivity.
A reduced focus and efficiency. Depression, anxiety or stress can all reduce an employee’s performance. The ability to concentrate, make decisions and perform tasks efficiently may be increasingly reduced.
Increased absenteeism. Rather than taking the required amount of time needed to fully recover, employees take intermittent time off. This results in poor productivity on their part but is also places additional stress on their work colleagues.
Presenteeism. Employees turn in for work when really, they should be off and receiving help for their illness. Such is the stigma surrounding mental health illness, employees turn up as they feel a mental illness does not warrant the same time off as a physical illness would. They are therefore unproductive and their potential to be a safety risk is increased.
High Turnover. Stress or burnout may lead employees to leave positions resulting in added costs for new recruitment and training to employers.
Impact on team dynamics. Team performance can be affected as mental health issues impact communication and collaboration. This may lead to misunderstandings and internal conflict resulting in overall poor performance.
Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace approach
For the workplace to thrive and remain productive, a focus on the mental health of the workforce is essential. A supportive and transparent work environment needs to be adopted. This is a top-down approach where the stigma of mental health is removed with a supportive and empathetic attitude applied.
Raising awareness within the company of the struggles which may be experienced by those with mental health issues and the best ways to offer support is a start. Furthermore, training staff in Mental Health First Aid will provide the support to those in the struggle. The mental health first aider will:
- Approach in a non-threatening way but say what they have seen or noticed.
- Offer to listen non-judgementally.
- Provide a safe space for those conversations.
- Offer reassurance and information, signposting to professional help as appropriate.
- Discuss self-help strategies or support groups available.
What to look for in good Mental Health in the Workplace training
Good training courses work through mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. They provide learners with the confidence and skills to listen to colleagues with empathy and genuineness.
Both accredited and non-accredited Mental Health at Work courses are available. These training courses will enable employees to identify the signs and symptoms of mental health issues in their colleagues, develop the skills for early intervention, and learn how to provide safe and effective support. Mental Health Training courses help with exploring and understanding the listening skills required when a colleague discloses any problems and also who to signpost them to for the appropriate help. Courses should provide a platform for discussion and help raise awareness of some people’s difficulties removing the current stigma surrounding Mental Health.
Set your workforce ahead of the game and train them in Mental Health First Aid. Remember, a small change could make a big difference to employers, employees and productivity.
Call 07835 055460 for more information.