Manage and support employees with mental ill health
The benefits of promoting a good mental health workplace culture and the range of support that employers can access.
Mental health issues can develop at any stage of an individual's life. Mental ill health can range from feeling 'a bit down' to common issues such as anxiety or depression, to severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.
Many forms of mental ill health are likely to be disabilities and, where that is so, as an employer, you have a responsibility under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to ensure that relevant job seekers and employees are not subjected to disability discrimination.
In addition, it is also good to have an open and inclusive workplace culture that displays respect for people with mental ill health, as it will bring many benefits to you and your employees.
This guide looks at problems that could arise from the poor management of mental ill health in the workplace, the advantages of promoting a good mental health workplace culture, and how to support employees with mental health issues.
It also highlights the range of support that employers can access and positive action measures that they can take, including signing up to the Equality Commission's Mental Health Charter.
Problems caused by poor management of mental ill health
Poor management of mental ill health can create a number of issues, including conflict, high staff turnover, and increased costs.
Mental ill health can sometimes be seen as a stigma by those who experience it, so they may be worried about discussing their situation, causing the symptoms to worsen.
In addition, it is often seen as a sensitive issue for employers, so they may feel concerned about addressing the subject with an employee.
Incorrectly dealing with mental ill health could greatly impact the wellbeing of your staff, and that in turn could hinder the growth and development of your business.
Negative effects of poor management of mental ill health in the workplace
Poor management of mental ill health or not recognising it in your business could create a number of issues, including:
- conflict between colleagues
- the individual is having difficulty completing tasks
- high staff turnover
- high absenteeism
- poor reputation
- low productivity
- increased costs
- workplace accidents
How to support employees with mental ill health.
Mental health in the workplace webinar
The Labour Relations Agency's (LRA's) supporting mental health in the workplace webinar will help raise your awareness of mental health, develop your understanding of key issues around mental health, and equip you with ways in which you can better manage mental health in the workplace.
Advantages of a positive mental health workplace culture
Key benefits of creating a workplace culture that respects and helps employees with mental ill health.
Many forms of mental ill health are likely to be disabilities and, where that is so, you as an employer have a responsibility under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to ensure that relevant job seekers and employees are not subjected to disability discrimination.
Disability discrimination can occur in a number of ways, for example, disability-related harassment might occur where derogatory or insensitive comments are made about an employee's mental ill health.
Reasonable adjustments
However, the most common form of disability discrimination occurs where an employer fails to comply with the duty to make reasonable adjustments. This is a special duty which requires employers to remove or reduce physical, procedural, and attitudinal barriers that prevent disabled people from enjoying the same equality of opportunity in employment that non-disabled people enjoy.
Creating a positive mental health culture will greatly help employers to comply with the reasonable adjustment duty.
Advantages of creating a culture for positive mental health
Some of the key benefits of creating a culture that respects and helps employees with mental ill health are that it can:
- reduce staff turnover and retain key skills
- make your business more attractive to potential employees
- show you have a demonstrable aspect of corporate social responsibility
- reduce sick absence
- create a healthier workplace
- create a more engaged, motivated, and committed workforce
- help your business provide a better service
- help you to comply with the reasonable adjustment duty
Mental health in the workplace webinar
The Labour Relations Agency's (LRA's) supporting mental health in the workplace webinar will help raise your awareness of mental health, develop your understanding of key issues around mental health, and equip you with ways in which you can better manage mental health in the workplace.
How to support employees with mental ill health
Ways that you can support employees if they are experiencing mental health issues.
To support your employees, you should create a workplace culture that is open and inclusive, which displays respect for job seekers and employees who have mental ill health, so that they feel comfortable about disclosing any mental health issues.
Methods of supporting your staff with mental ill health
Other ways you could support your staff include:
- Promote awareness of mental health issues amongst employees.
- Put relevant wellbeing and equality policies and procedures in place.
- Ensure line managers have the correct information about the correct practices and procedures so they can help an employee with mental ill health issues stay in employment.
- Ensure there is good communication between line managers and employees.
- Use appraisals or one-to-one meetings to talk about any concerns an employee may have.
- Put reasonable adjustments in place, eg, changes to the employee's working area or allowing the employee to take time off work for appointments.
- Learn to spot the warning signs of mental ill health, eg, an increase in unexplained absences, poor performance, or withdrawal from social contact.
- Develop greater work/life balance initiatives, eg, encouraging regular breaks.
- Sign up to the Equality Commission's Mental Health Charter.
Mental health advice videos
The Equality Commission has produced a couple of short videos to help employers and their staff manage and promote positive mental health in the workplace:
Mental health in the workplace webinar
The Labour Relations Agency's (LRA's) supporting mental health in the workplace webinar will help raise your awareness of mental health, develop your understanding of key issues around mental health, and equip you with ways in which you can better manage mental health in the workplace.
Mental ill health: support for employers
Sources of support for employers to manage employee mental health issues.
There is a range of support available for employers dealing with promoting equality and mental health issues in Northern Ireland.
Equality Commission support
The Equality Commission provides detailed guidance for employers and service providers on issues such as hiring new staff, redundancy, managing absence and flexible working.
In addition, through the Equality Commission's employer training programme, employers can attend training seminars and information sessions on a wide range of equality issues, including promoting disability equality in the workplace, managing bullying and harassment and recruiting fairly.
Mental health organisations
There are also a number of mental health organisations in Northern Ireland that can provide advice and help businesses to put reasonable adjustments in place.
These include:
Search for other mental health organisations in Northern Ireland.
Government support programmes
The Health and Work Support Branch, which is part of the Department for Communities, provides specialist support programmes to help employers recruit and retain disabled workers.
This support includes Workable (NI), Access to Work (NI) and the Condition Management Programme.
Read more on support if you employ someone who is disabled.
Mental health in the workplace webinar
The Labour Relations Agency's (LRA's) supporting mental health in the workplace webinar will help raise your awareness of mental health, develop your understanding of key issues around mental health and equip you with ways in which you can better manage mental health in the workplace.
Mental Health Charter
The Equality Commission’s Mental Health Charter will help you to put in place the correct procedures for a more motivated workforce.
The Mental Health Charter, which has been jointly produced by the Equality Commission, Action Mental Health, Disability Action, MindWise, Mental Health Foundation, Inspire, and Change Your Mind, provides a framework for working towards mentally healthy workplaces.
How can the Mental Health Charter help employers?
By signing up to the Mental Health Charter, you will be able to put in place the correct policies, practices, and procedures which will greatly help you to create an open and inclusive culture that shows respect for those with mental ill health.
The Equality Commission can also provide you with free information and training resources to help you meet the charter commitments.