Less than half of staff think managers would spot their mental health problems, despite two in three managers feeling confident promoting wellbeing
Research comes from nearly 44,000 employees whose employer is taking part in Mind’s third annual Workplace Wellbeing Index 2018-19.
Nearly half of employees (45 per cent) feel that their manager would be able to spot if they were having problems with their mental health, research by the mental health charity reveals today.
When it comes to managers, Mind’s research found that many feel they could do with more support. Around two in five (41 per cent) of the 15,500 managers surveyed said they felt their employer contributed to their skills to support an employee experiencing poor mental health, while two in three (66 per cent) felt confident promoting wellbeing.
The survey – which involved over 100 organisations - also found over one in two staff (56 per cent) felt their organisation supports their mental health, and around one in two (51 per cent) felt the culture at their organisation makes it possible to speak openly about experiencing poor mental health.
The data revealed that mental health problems are common among staff - more than seven in ten employees (71 per cent) have experienced mental health problems in their lives, while over one in two (53 per cent) employees are affected by poor mental health in their current workplace.
Responding to the figures, Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, says:
“With mental health problems so common among employees, it’s important that every workplace – no matter the size - makes staff wellbeing a priority. It’s also vital that employers make sure managers know how to spot and support colleagues who might be struggling with issues like stress, anxiety or depression.
“Thankfully, mental health at work is becoming a key priority for many organisations. This year, over 100 forward-thinking employers of different sizes and sectors took part in our Workplace Wellbeing Index – an opportunity to celebrate best practice and receive support on how to do even better. But there’s still a way to go when it comes to creating a culture where staff feel able to be completely open about their mental health in every workplace.”
The research is released ahead of Mind’s third annual Workplace Wellbeing Awards, taking place during the evening of Tuesday 30 April 2019. The Awards celebrate the efforts of employers of differing sizes and sectors to support and promote staff mental health. Employers will be recognised with either a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Committed to Action accolade at a ceremony held in central London hosted by TV presenter and Mind Ambassador Anna Williamson. The results will be available from 1 May 2019 at mind.org.uk/indexawards.
