Posted: Monday 4 June 2007
Mental health charity Mind commented today on a new report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development which shows that mental illness is now the second largest reason for UK workers taking time off sick.
Mind Chief Executive Paul Farmer said:
"This report shows that mental health is everybody's business. It's up to employers, employees and the Government to recognise the need to take mental health in the workplace seriously. There has been positive progress in recent years with Disability Discrimination legislation, but more needs to be done to highlight the business benefits of supporting employees who experience mental health problems."
Economically, it makes more sense for organisations to support current employees than to recruit and train new ones, who, without proper systems in place, may well also become stressed.
Mind recommends that businesses take the following key actions to promote a mentally healthy work environment: