Mental Health in the Workplace

Less than two-thirds (59%) of employees said their organisation encouraged people to be open about mental health issues². Clearly we have some way to go before employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health and employers feel well equipped to support them. This mental health in the workplace hub is designed to help…

^{1,2 CIPD, ‘Health and Wellbeing at work’ report. 2019. Pg 29, 42}

Recognising, valuing, improving and protecting mental health in the workplace makes sound business sense, so we’re proud to be partnering with The Mental Health Foundation to highlight the importance of safeguarding employees' mental wellbeing.

Promoting a healthy culture and implementing polices that support people’s mental health isn’t a simple tick box exercise. Here we look at the challenges that businesses face, but also the opportunities that being proactive about mental health can bring.

Help for HR, business owners and line managers

Enabling employers to be a part of the process is a vital part of tackling - and preventing - mental health issues in the workplace.

Mental health accounted for 15% of all Unum's Group Income Protection claims, second only to cancer³. By looking at mental health in the same way as we do physical health - as a state of health that everyone has - we can start to break down the stigma that still surrounds it.

^{3 Unum’s Annual Claims Statement. 2019}

How to recognise stressed employees and how to support them

Stress at work isn’t always a bad thing – it can help focus and prepare the body for action. But prolonged stress can lead to both physical and mental problems, and that's when it becomes an issue for both the employee and the company they work for.

With workloads/volume of work (62%) and management style (43%) now cited as the top two causes of stress at work⁴, nurturing your employees' mental health as well as recognising and knowing how to tackle stress, is something all companies, big or small, need to be prepared for.

Here we look at the causes of workplace stress and what businesses can do to help protect their staff and themselves.

^{4 CIPD, ‘Health and Wellbeing at work’ report. 2018. Pg 37}

Helping our GIP customers get the right mental health support as early as possible.

Unum’s Mental Health Pathway is available to all Unum Group Income Protection (GIP) customers. It gives them (and their employees) access to specialist support, quickly, when mental health or mental wellbeing concerns are first raised. The Pathway covers:

• Holistic and preventative support on any issue related to mental health in the workplace
• Early intervention support where an employee is struggling with their mental health. This can help employers and employees navigate that vital early period, and prevent temporary symptoms from becoming bigger or longer-term mental health problems.