Mental health affects one in six British workers.

It’s the leading cause of sickness absence.

And it’s costing UK employers between £33 billion and £44 billion a year.

Prioritising employee mental health isn’t just "the right thing to do"; it’s critical to your business's success.

To address this, the government’s “Thriving at Work” review outlined six core mental health standards for employers.

Here's a breakdown of standard 1:

Your business should have a Mental Health at Work Plan

A mental health plan should focus on promoting well-being, addressing work-related causes of mental health problems and supporting employees experiencing mental health issues.

There are 3 areas that you should include in your plan:

Promote Employee Well-being

• Get senior leaders to speak out about mental health.
• Raise awareness through training, campaigns and Mental Health Champions.
• Involve staff in decision-making with surveys, forums and focus groups.
• Promote a healthy work/life balance by encouraging lunch breaks and avoiding weekend work.
• Provide learning opportunities like coaching and job shadowing.
• Foster positive working relationships through teamwork and social activities.

Tackle Work-Related Causes of Mental Health Issues

• Regularly assess staff mental wellbeing to identify areas for improvement.
• Train line managers to recognise and address mental health concerns.
• Hold regular one-to-ones to check in on employee wellbeing.
• Ensure a healthy physical work environment by addressing noise, space and lighting issues.

Support Employees with Mental Health Issues

• Offer access to mental health services and peer support groups.
• Encourage flexible working and provide wellness action plans.
• Promote open discussions about mental health, ensuring staff feel supported, not judged.

Need Help?

Creating a mental health plan can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. We can help you to develop an effective strategy tailored to your business.

If you’re ready to improve mental health in your business, get in touch with us today.