Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 May) is an annual event allowing an opportunity for employers and employees to focus on achieving good mental health.
The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago and it has grown to become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally.
This year’s focus – loneliness – now affects more and more people in the UK and has had a huge impact on physical and mental health especially during the pandemic.
As part of the campaign week, Stacey Cox, Director & Head of Employment Law & HR Services at Wake Smith Solicitors, looks at some of the topics surrounding the issues of mental health in the workplace.
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Frequently asked questions on our website and social media platforms
Tips for employers and some practical steps to address loneliness.
Stacey said: “According to mentalhealth.org.uk 70 million work days are lost due to mental health each year in the UK, costing employers staggeringly approximately £2.4 billion a year.
“It is therefore important to manage mental health issues effectively, not just because of the cost but also for staff wellbeing. If mental health problems are managed correctly with support then absence is less likely.
“We can all play a part in protecting our mental health and all need to find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness. Reducing loneliness is a major step towards a mentally healthy society.
“Research suggests that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep problems and increased stress, all of which can affect people’s ability to function at their best at home and at work.”
For further help on employment policies surrounding mental health issues and to arrange training on managing mental health in the workplace please contact Stacey Cox at Wake Smith Solicitors on 0114 224 2087.
