Under half (42%) of respondents feel that their manager would be able to spot any signs that they may be struggling with poor mental health, according to research by Mind.
A survey of 43,892 employees, across 74 organisations taking part in Mind’s Workplace Wellbeing Index, a benchmarking tool, also found that 84% of respondents would continue to go to work when experiencing poor mental health.
The research also found:
- 48% of respondents have experienced poor mental health, such as stress, low mood and anxiety, while working for their current employer.
- 21% of respondents believe that their current workload is unmanageable.
- 58% of respondents would still attend work when experiencing poor physical health.
Emma Mamo (pictured), head of workplace wellbeing at Mind, said: “As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week, it is worrying to discover that half of employees still don’t feel able to speak out. Too many people struggling with poor mental health, such as stress, anxiety and depression, still feel they need to stay silent. For some, reasons include not feeling comfortable disclosing their mental health problem, worrying their employer will think they can’t do their job and not wanting to be treated differently.
“We know that changing workplace culture takes time to filter through an organisation. Encouragingly, forward-thinking employers are taking steps in the right direction. It’s great that so many organisations are asking themselves some challenging questions about how they are supporting their workforce and what they can do to provide a better experience. We need to see more workplaces encouraging open conversations about mental health and championing a more supportive and open environment.”
Mind need to do a lot more to support people who speak out about mental health issues in the workplace, such as providing concrete support, e.g. help with legal costs incurred in trying to hold bad employers to account, ‘calling out’ bad employers and HR departments and advocating improvements in the legal system, which is woefully inadequate for those experiencing mental health problems caused by their employer.
As Mind know, most mental health issues in the workplace are caused by bad employers, often facilitated by HR.
Its all very well encouraging people to speak up, but its important to ensure that people who do are supported and don’t find themselves standing alone. Quoting statistics and cosying up to employers does not provide the practical help needed by individual victims.