Happiness at Work
The key to tackling
mental health problems?
The equation seems simple; a healthy
workforce equates to a happy workforce which results in a more productive and successful
organisation. This is good for society and the country’s economy. However in
reality the picture is bleak, suggesting that this formulae is neither being
understood nor utilised.
Unfortunately, poor mental health is not
uncommon in today’s society. In Britain, one in four adults will experience a
diagnosable mental health problem in any one year, despite the UK being one of
the richest countries in the developed world. Whilst wealth does not
necessarily lead to happiness, having a good standard of living, access to free
healthcare, can certainly improve a society’s wellbeing. However, not so
surprisingly, 80 percent of people with a mental health problem believe that
their condition is associated to work related problems. Does this imply that employers
do not understand the equation mentioned above? Or are they so intent on
achieving their outcomes that they choose to ignore it, not realising that the
long term affects of poor mental health can be catastrophic for society.
With one in six working Britons
experiencing a mental health issue at any one time, including depression,
anxiety or stress - more needs to be done to address these unsettling
statistics.
In the run up to Mental Health Awareness
Week (12th – 18th May) two significant, and timely,
documents have been published; a survey by Depression Alliance revealing that a
third of people struggle to cope at work due to stress/exhaustion, and a report
entitled “Depression in the
Workplace in Europe: new insights from business leaders", which makes the argument that employers need to be more
responsible for the wellbeing of their employees and the benefits this has on
the country’s economy and society as a whole.
At any one time in Britain one worker in six will be
experiencing depression, anxiety or problems relating to stress. Among people who describe
their mental health as poor, 80% say this is at least in part a result of
problems at work
The report, which was published at the end
of April, suggests that mental health problems are the leading cause of disability
worldwide, affecting 350 million people. More over, depression
disproportionally affects adults of working ages and the financial impact on
business and the economy is profound. Recent figures, from the London Schools
of Economics and Political Science and King’s College London, shows that the
annual cost of depression to European businesses is a staggering £77 billion.
This is directly a result of lost productivity.
Presenteeism, as identified in the report,
can be as detrimental to the organisation and the individual, as much as
absenteeism, if not more. In the UK, it is believed that 1.5 times as much work
is lost through presenteeism as absenteeism for mental health conditions. This
can be attributed to two reasons; firstly, employees with depression also
experience cognitive symptoms (difficulty concentrating, indecisiveness and
forgetfulness) up to 94% of the time, hindering their performance in the
workplace. Secondly, employees are reluctant to take time off work, even when
they need to, due to fear of losing their job or demotion, which could
compromise their finances. This therefore fuels their stress and can augment
and prolong existing mental health conditions.
In the UK it is argued that 1.5 times as much work is lost
through presenteeism as absenteeism for mental health conditions
Time off work or reduced productivity at work can
affect
finances and push people into debt
Having a mental health problem can impact
all aspects of our every day life including our relationships with family, friends
and colleagues. The Depression Alliance survey which involved 1,200 people,
found that 83 percent affected by a mental health problem at work also
experienced isolation or loneliness. However, only half of those feeling depressed
or lonely confided in a colleague, yet a large proportion who did, reported to
have felt better.
Mental health problems can affect any of us,
however, in spite of this, there is a widespread lack of awareness, especially
in the workplace, of how to recognise the signs and support people. Colleagues
and managers may not know how, or feel confident, in supporting someone with a
mental health condition, and moreover may not be aware what, if any, the
companies policy is on mental health. The report stated that the
majority of workplaces (78% in the UK), do not have a formal mental health
policy in place and would most likely benefit from reviewing how they deal with
depression. Not surprisingly, many
employees are reluctant to inform their managers if they know that they have a
problem due to fear of facing prejudice or stigmatisation. This of course can
escalate feelings of isolation.
Chief Executive of Depression Alliance,
Emer O'Neill says, "Depression is the biggest mental health challenge
among working-age people and often leads to considerable loneliness and
isolation at work. However, many companies aren't properly equipped to manage
employees who suffer from depression so providing support to these individuals
in the workplace is essential”.
Who’s responsibility is it anyway?
We are all susceptible to experiencing a
mental health problem. Research suggests that around 50 percent of our mental
health can be attributed to our genetics and environment, but the remaining can
be altered by our activities and steps we take in life to protect our mental
health. With such a high percentage of mental health problems related to work
(it is where we spend the majority of our adult life) more needs to done to
protect the mental health and wellbeing of employees. Employers therefore
should create a supportive environment that reduces the taboo around mental
health, but also implement strategic health and wellbeing plans with the sole
intention of protecting their workforce and providing managers and colleagues
with the knowledge and tools to deal with mental health appropriately and
effectively.
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)
is a strong advocate of improving the health and mental wellbeing of the
population, through the creation of health champions and workplace health and wellbeing
champions. Our new national Level
2 Award in Mental Wellbeing qualification, seeks to equip people with
practical skills they can incorporate in their every day lives to improve and
protect mental health. When people have good mental health, they can lead more
fulfilling lives, can solve problems and are more productive.
For
more information, on the Mental Wellbeing qualification and how it can be
adapted for your organisation, please contact Gina Mohajer gmohajer@rsph.org.uk.
Useful Links:
NHS Choices Helpline
Depression in the Workplace: A report featuring new insights from
business leaders
Mental Health Foundation
Photo by Sina Bahrami
