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Most organisations, particularly those in the public sector, are aware of the importance of protecting the health and safety at work of their employees. This responsibility, however, extends far beyond their physical health to incorporate their mental health and wellbeing too.

Written into law, it’s a responsibility that employers must not ignore. And neither should they want to. In fact, positive measures for promoting and sustaining good mental health at work are a must-have for any organisation that wants to boost recruitment, retention, productivity and their overall workplace culture – which, presumably, is every organisation in the country. Here, we will explore why employers and managers need to prioritise tackling stress and supporting positive mental health as part of their commitment to protecting health, safety and welfare in the workplace.

 

What do we mean by ‘mental health’?

The term ‘mental health’ relates to our emotional, psychological and social well-being and affects how we think, feel and act. It also impacts upon our relationships, our work and the decisions we make. Good mental health is therefore incredibly important for everyone; it leads to a feeling of well-being that is essential to our daily life.

National mental health charity Mind stresses that our mental wellbeing is “dynamic.” They explain that it “can change from moment to moment, day to day, month to month or year to year.” That’s why it’s important to invest in our mental health and wellbeing on an ongoing basis.

Mind’s checklist for wellbeing suggests that remaining mentally healthy enables individuals to:

 

Why should employers worry about mental health at work?

The checklist above offers plenty of reasons why supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their workforce should be a key priority for employers. The public sector workforce operates in an environment that can often be stressful, ever-changing and sometimes uncertain; workers need to be able to positively adapt to meet the needs of organisations that are often facing significant challenges. In addition, building and maintaining positive relationships with others is often central to their role. Staff need to be mentally healthy to deal with all of these requirements, remain productive and achieve their targets.

 

Employers should also be aware of the following:

 

How can employers help support positive mental health for their staff?

There are many simple but significant ways in which managers and leaders can tackle stress at work and support their staff to maintain positive mental health in the workplace. These include:

 

How can employers support their own mental health at work?

Managers in public sector organisations often inhabit a varied, high-pressured role in a challenging sector with high staff turnover. It is essential that they dedicate time and energy to supporting their own mental health and wellbeing. This will enable them to better support their staff, the people who use their services and their family and friends.

  1. Connect – Make time to connect with people, both face-to-face and virtually, on a personal and professional basis. Nurture your relationships with family, friends, neighbour staff and colleagues, other professionals, peer networks and your local community.
  2. Be Active – Regular exercise is fantastic for our mental and physical health, but you should also try to find frequent opportunities to be active in your daily life. This could include holding ‘walking meetings’, supervisions or one-to-ones or trying to build activity into your commute or lunch breaks. Seek outdoor spaces and involve others, where possible.
  3. Take Notice – This is about taking time to notice and appreciate the small, beautiful or positive details in the world around you, but it can also be about self-reflection. Try to make time for some reflective practice and acknowledge and celebrate your achievements and hard work.
  4. Keep Learning – Try to adopt a positive mindset when it comes to learning from situations or implementing new initiatives. You can also reach out for support in new ways to support your learning.
  5. Give –A large part of this is recognising everything – big or small – that you already do for others. You can always add to this with small, conscious acts of kindness each day or even by taking time to volunteer or join a community group. Ultimately, remember that even seemingly tiny gestures, such as thanking staff for the good work they do, can make a huge difference.

We can also extend the following advice to managers and all employees at any level looking to boost their mental health and wellbeing and manage their own stress at work:

 

Further Guidance

 

How we can help

First Response Training can provide face-to-face, classroom-based training, webinar sessions, e-learning courses and distance learning manuals on the subject of Mental Health. We offer general Mental Health Awareness training, Mental Health First Aid England courses, training in specific mental health disorders and mindfulness sessions.

 

For more information, explore our Training Solutions framework here, or get in touch with the team!
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Rhodri Andrews and Jenni Gardiner

Impact Futures and First Response Training