Organisation level
Workplace policies and practicies
Promoting mental wellbeing at work is about providing an
environment for employees that promotes and supports their mental
wellbeing and reduces stress.
There are a number of key areas that you can work on, to
prioritise which of these issues need attention, you can use the
results of the
employee survey and the
workplace assessment.
Key areas to work on to improve mental wellbeing at
work include job control, job demands, job roles,
relationships at work and organisational change.
Job control
Providing employees at all levels of the organisation with more
control over the way they do their work can help reduce stress
levels. Arranging for flexible working and increase control
over work and over the work environment are a few examples.
Job demands
Job demands such as workload, work patterns and the work
environment can affect stress levels at work and need to be
controlled. Ensure your organisation sets realistic targets,
provide skills development opportunities and provde a balance
between effort and reward.
Job roles
Employees need to be clear about why they're undertaking their
work and how it fits in with the organisation's aims and
objectives. Ensure job roles and responsibilities
are clearly defined.
Relationships at work
Positive relationships at work can promote mental wellbeing,
increase job satisfaction and improve productivity. Look into
cooperation between staff and between departments, addressing
bullying and harassment, equal
opportunities, etc.
Organisational change
Organisational change and insecure employment status are both
associated with an increase in mental health problems. Good
communication across the organisation and support during change are
essential.
Management skills training
Managers and supervisors need to have the skills to be able to
promote the mental wellbeing of their staff and manage mental
health and stress problems effectively. It is also well known that
competent managers have a positive impact on stress and mental
wellbeing. Good management practice includes a range of skills such
as providing positive feedback, conducting regular one-to-one
supervision sessions, providing training etc. For a full list
order your
Health at Work Toolkit and take a look at Booklet 4.
Managers also need the
information and skills to manage someone who has a mental
health problem, is distressed or is off sick or
returning to work after an absence due to mental health.
Providing a supportive environment
A supportive environment makes it easier for employees to
maintain or achieve good mental wellbeing, and shows that
management values their mental wellbeing.
Providing support is especially important for employees who are
experiencing, or who have experienced, a mental health problem or
stress, and can be a very effective way to prevent the situation
worsening. You could look at providing:
- Assistance, advice and support for all employees
- Assistance, advice and support for people who experience a
mental health problem while in employment
- Support for staff returning to work after a period of absence
due to mental health problems
Employment of people who have experience of mental health
problems
Work can play a very positive role in our life. Mental illness
is not necessarily a barrier to effective working, and providing
employment and maintaining people in work is a positive way of
supporting individuals who have, or who are recovering from, mental
health problems.
Employing people with a history of mental health problems will
also contribute to promoting a culture of openness within your
workplace, where employees feel safe to talk about any problems
they have and ask for help early.
More information
For more information download our
Health at Work Mental wellbeing fact sheets.