GMB young workers call on Government for concrete action on 'scourge' of workplace mental health problems
2 min read
Union call comes as a shocking new report reveals 60% of employees have experienced mental problems in the past year due to work.
GMB Young Workers are urging the Government to introduce a ‘Mental Health at Work Act’ and force employers to tackle the ‘scourge’ workplace mental health problems.
The call comes as a shocking new report reveals 60% of employees have experienced mental problems in the past year due to work.
The focus of this year’s World Mental Health Day - which takes place today - in mental health in the workplace.
The Mental Health at Work report, published by Business is the Community, highlighted that the workplace is not only unsupportive of employees with mental health problems, but that work is often a key contributing factor to poor mental health.
The report showed that three out of every five employees have experienced a mental health problem in the past year because of work, yet only 13% feel comfortable disclosing such an issue to their employer.
The situation is worse for young people, with significantly less willing to discuss mental health issues with their manager than those over 40.
GMB Young Workers have released video calling for better mental health support in the workplace, and are calling on the Government to take active steps to tackle this growing issue.
Beccie Ions, Lead Campaigner for GMB’s ‘Mental Health Matters’, said;
“As a young worker, I understand the pressures that workplace puts on mental health.
“Young people are working in uncertain times with insecure contracts and lower pay, putting enormous strain on our mental health.
“BIC’s Mental Health at Work Report 2017 report reveals the scourge of workplace mental health issues -particularly among young people, with 60% of sufferers saying work is a contributing factor.
“Despite movement in the right direction, employers need to do more, but ultimately it is down to the Government to ensure they do.
"We are calling on the government to introduce a Mental Health at Work Act, which would work towards ensuring parity of esteem between mental and physical health. "
We need to stop talking about mental health and take real action to ensure workplaces properly support their employees’ health and wellbeing."
