Paying attention to workplace mental health has never been more important

Companies that don’t do enough to support their workers’ mental health risk seeing their overall productivity drop by a quarter, new research suggests, following a survey by the Mental Health and Productivity Pilot of nearly 2000 Midlands employers.

 Despite the potential hit to their bottom line, it found that less than half of firms offer proactive support for mental health and many are unsure where to go for advice. (Source)

The Mental Health & Productivity Pilot is a partnership of Midlands universities, local authorities and mental health charity Mind. 

The 3-year programme led by Coventry University aims to reduce mental health distress and break down barriers to accessing care faced by employees who are experiencing mental illness; and ultimately to make a positive contribution to organisational productivity in both quantitative (monetary) and qualitative (wellbeing) terms. 

Through the programme, employers can access free resources and support and trial new innovative ways to retain a happy and healthy workforce. 

Thrive at Work Workplace Wellbeing Accreditation Programme: Learn how to support your employees’ mental health through Thrive at Work, a free structured and supported workplace wellbeing programme from West Midlands Combined Authority.

Guided by experienced assessors you will work towards our Foundation level before going on to the coveted Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditation standards. You will be invited to insightful networking events with fellow employers and receive regular informative updates.

Sign the mental health at work commitment: Making the Mind Mental Health at Work Commitment is a way of showing your values as an organisation by declaring publicly that mental health at work is a priority for you.

Employers who make the commitment are given a free, simple framework which includes 6 standards to work towards. These are effectively a set of actions that any organisation can take away and follow themselves, to improve and support the mental health of their people. Make the Commitment today.

Expert support to help employers reduce absence: Midlands businesses are invited to get free support to help them improve sickness absence, by taking part in pilots led by healthcare experts at local universities and mental health charity Mind.

Innovative and practical new ways to help manage sickness absence due to mental ill health are being developed for businesses of all sizes across different sectors. Midlands employers are invited to take part in initial trials, starting October 2020. Interested? Click here to read more.