Healthy people are happier, more engaged and more productive. Employers across the UK are acting now to support the wellbeing of their people and create mentally healthy businesses. Stress, anxiety and depression are the biggest cause of sickness absence in our society. Mental ill health alone, is responsible for 91 million working days lost every year.
The Centre for Mental Health has found that mental ill health costs UK employers an estimated £34.9 billion each year – the equivalent of £1,300 for every employee in the UK workforce. Broken down, that’s £10.6 billion in sickness absence, £21.2 billion in reduced productivity, and £3.1 billion in replacing staff who leave their jobs for mental health-related reasons. According to the Centre for Mental Health, simple steps to improve the management of mental health in the workplace will allow employers to save 30% or more of these costs – at least £10 billion a year.
So, there is exciting news, that today (Thursday 17th Jan 2019) the issue of Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace will finally be debated in Parliament. Luciana Berger of Labour, Norman Lamb of the Lib Dems and Johnny Mercer of Conservatives are sponsoring the debate and more than 60 MPs have supported the debate, triggered by the online petition of Change.org
“I stand with #WheresYourHeadAt demanding more should be done to protect mental health. Today parliament is debating a change to law which would mean ALL workplaces make provision around #mentalhealthfirstaid.
Make it compulsory to have a mental health first aider at work #wheresyourheadat
A trained Mental Health First Aider in your workplace can start productive conversations about mental health, be a role model for how to manage mental health, promote greater understanding of the importance of mental health, and play a significant part in ending stigma and discrimination around mental health in the workplace. Upon completing the course, students will become certified mental health first aiders in the workplace and can help colleagues with a mental health issue receive the support they need to recover or manage their symptoms. Both public courses and workplace training are available.
