Half (50 percent*) of employees have never been asked about stress, depression or anxiety in a 1-2-1 with managers. Over two thirds (69 percent) of business leaders admit their organisation needs to do more to prevent stress.
During Mental Health Awareness Week Bupa is calling for business leaders to reconsider the implications of not discussing mental health with their employees. Half of all employees (50 percent*) have never been asked about stress, depression or anxiety in a 1-2-1 with their manager, a study by Bupa has found. This is despite more than three quarters (76 percent) of business leaders believing they actively encourage managers to address and support employees’ mental health. Research released by Bupa to mark Mental Health Awareness Week (11-17 May) also revealed while four in five (80 percent) business leaders claim they have effective measures in place to help tackle mental health issues within their organisation, less than a third of employees (32 percent) with a mental health condition agree. Patrick Watt, corporate director at Bupa comments: “There is a clear disconnect between what leaders believe they are doing about mental health in the workplace versus how employees feel.
“Businesses need to take action. Managers need to be trained to spot the signs and know how to support employees to get the right help. Employers should also take steps to help prevent mental health problems from occurring by creating an open culture and putting practices in place that support good mental wellbeing.” The study also revealed that almost two thirds (60 percent) of employees with a mental health condition admit they are not happy in their current role because of the way they have been treated in the workplace. While 70 percent of employees who have suffered with a mental health issue don’t believe there is an ‘open culture’ in their organisation.
Despite business leaders claiming they have effective measures in place to support employees’ mental health, over two thirds (69 percent) admit their organisation needs to do more to prevent stress. Patrick Watt adds: “Employers need to understand the business benefits and their moral responsibility for engaging with mental health and take active steps to improve employee wellbeing. At Bupa, we offer many of our members the chance to self-refer, supporting them to access the confidential support and treatment they need without seeing a GP or a psychiatrist first – helping them to access the help they need and recover more quickly.”
