A new survey conducted by ACAS suggests that more than a third of employers have improved their mental health support for staff since the start of the pandemic.
Kayleigh Frost is Head of Clinical Support at Health Assured. She says: “Mental health problems, unlike physical problems, can be hard to spot. That’s why it’s essential for employers to take care of their workers’ wellbeing. Proactively taking steps to prioritise employee mental health will improve their working lives. And when employees are happier, the business thrives.”
Employers can be proactive in their approach to employee mental health by taking the following steps:
- Conducting wellbeing surveys
- Taking responsibility
- Creating a culture of support
Kayleigh says: “All good journeys have a starting point. The journey to improving workforce wellbeing is no different. But it’s hard to get a sense of direction when you don’t know where you’re starting from in the first place.
“Gauge the current state of employee wellbeing with a survey. You could ask questions like how would you describe the current approach to workplace wellbeing? Or what would you like to see more of to improve workplace wellbeing?
“Have conversations with people who can improve wellbeing in the workplace. Having a dedicated representative who can focus on this will help you make progress. Line managers are key to supporting the mental health of their teams too. Ensure managers are assessing the mental health of their employees in regular one-to-ones
“If you have an EAP—or any other benefit—in place, make sure you’re signposting to it. Employees may forget the options available during times of need. But often, a friendly reminder can be all it takes for them to use the service.”
