What’s the cost of mental health absences to your business?

But it’s crucial to remember that this is not just a business issue, it’s a human one.

Recognising the effects on those around us who are grappling with mental health challenges is so important.

10th October is World Mental Health Day. A day when the Mental Health Foundation strives to raise awareness about mental health and drive positive change.

Taking a few minutes during the day to talk to colleagues about how we can collectively look after our mental health and signposting how to get help if someone is struggling could have a profound impact.

By fostering a supportive and understanding workplace in this way, leaders can help their people feel valued and empowered to seek help, ultimately boosting overall well-being and productivity – a true win-win.

Here’s a few cost-effective ideas on how you can provide support in the longer term:

• Workload management – monitor workloads to prevent excessive stress and burnout, encouraging employees to prioritise their work, take regular breaks and use their holidays to recharge

• Open communication – cultivate an environment where your people feel safe discussing their mental health concerns without fear of judgement, negative consequences or stigma

• Support networks – establish a peer support group or network to connect employees facing similar challenges, allowing them to share experiences and coping strategies

• Lead by example – as a leader show empathy and vulnerability and when appropriate share your own experiences with mental health to normalise the conversation and encourage openness

And if you don’t have access to internal resources, consider signposting your employees to one of these useful organisations:

Mind https://www.mind.org.uk/

Rethink Mental Illness https://www.rethink.org

Anxiety UK https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/

SANE https://www.sane.org.uk

Together, we can create a workplace that not only prioritises mental health but also supports everyone within it.