NICE guide to mental wellbeing at work
The guidance aims to help reduce the estimated 13.7 million working days lost each year due to work-related mental health conditions including stress, depression and anxiety which are currently estimated to cost UK employers around £28.3 billion per year at current pay levels.
Work has an important role in promoting mental wellbeing. It can not only help develop an individual's self-esteem and sense of identity but also helps to provide a sense of fulfilment and opportunities for social interaction. However when the pressure of work exceeds an employee's ability to cope it can have negative effects on the employee's mental health, particularly in the form of stress.
The NICE guidance highlights how employers and employees can work in partnership to improve mental wellbeing within the workplace, by taking a positive organisation-wide approach that promotes mental wellbeing through changes in ways of working, such as improved line management and the provision of flexible working where appropriate. These recommendations will not only benefit employees but will also help employers to reduce sickness absence and staff turnover leading to increased productivity and performance.
Professor Mike Kelly, Public Health Excellence Centre Director, NICE said "The benefits of promoting mental wellbeing within the workplace are clear. Today's guidance explains how employers can make simple changes which will improve the management of mental health in the workplace, including the prevention and early identification of problems. The financial incentives for employers adopting these approaches are significant however measures such as the performing of annual audits of employee wellbeing are not common practice. By following these recommendations an average organisation of 1000 employees can expect to save an estimated £250 000 a year, due to reduced absenteeism and increased performance.
The guidance therefore represents a win-win for employers and their employees and should be seen as important advice to help organisations irrespective of their size or sector."
6 November 2009
Created on: 06-Nov-09 09:40
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