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Mental ill health is the leading cause of both short and long-term absence in the UK. If your business does not have a positive approach to supporting mental wellbeing, it could be damaging your productivity. Luckily, new help is at hand in the form of a new online portal for employers called “Mental Health at Work”– here’s an overview of what it’s all about. 

“As a mental health first aider, I have experience in both supporting individuals as well as helping organisations to develop a more positive approach to mental wellbeing at work, so I was keen to check out the new Mental Health at Work gateway,” says Kathryn Fairlie. “The project has been developed by Mind and the Royal Foundation. It brings together new and existing resources to help line managers handle individual issues, whilst also supporting employers to be proactive through conducting risk assessments and creating a culture that encourages a healthy, productive workforce.”

The resources include a series of handy toolkits, covering sector-specific issues as well as some general ones like:

• Workplace stress: fulfilling your responsibilities as an employer
• Starting a conversation about mental health
• Boosting your knowledge about mental health issues
• Workplace wellbeing: showing your commitment

You will also find further resources neatly divided into key sections including:

• Support for line managers, colleagues and staff
• Ways to assess my organisation’s approach
• Ideas to improve workplace culture
• Help to develop policy and practice

The amount of information available online about mental health can appear overwhelming, however the new portal helps to break it down into key areas which makes it easier to find what you’re looking for. 

At Kathryn Fairlie HR & Training Consultancy, we can support your journey towards a mentally healthier workplace in a number of ways, including:

• Delivering mental health awareness training in your workplace – a great way to open conversations about mental health, challenge taboos and misconceptions and support people to become more aware of their own and others’ wellbeing
• Working towards the Mindful Employer principles: a charter for employers who are positive about mental health
• Conducting a stress audit, using HSE Management Standards on Stress to review six key areas that if not properly managed, can have a negative impact on stress levels, including demands, control, support, relationships, roles and change.

To start a conversation about how to make your workplace mentally healthier, contact Kathryn Fairlie on 01249 701486.