Firms need to promote mental health wellbeing, says Institute of Directors

The IoD has just launched a mental health in the workplace campaign, with a report called ‘A little more conversation’.

It follows a survey which found that 54 per cent of IoD members have been approached by staff suffering mental ill health. Yet just 14 per cent have a formal mental health policy in place and fewer than one in five offer line management training.

The IoD believes increasing awareness of mental health in the business community could play a big role in boosting productivity.

The campaign is one of the first under the new director general of the IoD, Stephen Martin, the former managing director of Scunthorpe-based Clugston Group.

Coming from a background in construction, he knows how far companies go to protect the physical health of staff but he said mental wellbeing is often not given enough attention.

He said: “Prevention is always better than cure, so we need to ensure that businesses are supported by a government and environment where employees feel comfortable enough to talk about their problems at an early stage.

“It can be hard for small businesses in particular, who don’t have large HR departments to prepare for staff dealing with mental health problems. There are already many positive schemes out there that can help these companies, but awareness is still too low.

“Equipping business leaders with more mental health literacy could well contribute to a real uptake in Britain’s productivity – this is not just an issue of welfare, but of business and commerce too.”

In February, the IoD held its first ever SME directors’ mental health forum. BBC journalist Matthew Shaw discussed his struggle to come to terms with depression and looked at how his employer provided effective support for those suffering with mental health issues.

He pointed out that a volatile world and technology that makes you contactable 24/7 adds to existing stresses and strains.

I know from personal experience how important it is to have the support of your company when you are having a tough time. That support is likely to be crucial to the prospects for recovery. If you don’t get the support it’s just another stress to add to existing issues. The outcome is not likely to be good. IoD member Zainah Khan set up her business, Chakra Corporate Mental Strength, after qualifying as a psychotherapist at Leeds Beckett University. She said: “I launched Chakra following my experience of working in corporate environments, which made clear to me that there is a need for what I do.

“My focus is on positive mental health, primarily building resilience and adopting an early intervention approach; taking steps to ensure that positive mental wellbeing is preserved, maintained and enhanced for the benefit of the individual and the business.”

Bill Cohen, a senior Deloitte partner, is a mental health champion within his firm. He said: “Deloitte has been really forward thinking in this regard. The role I have is very much part of the soft HR infrastructure. It’s low key but our staff know that it’s there when they need it. My role involves talking with people when needed, listening and signposting for further support.”

It’s clear many employers have developed a good understanding of how mental health issues impact their employees and put in place appropriate support structures. Many others still need to have a better understanding. It should be integral to a comprehensive HR strategy and a key foundation of productivity.

You can find out more about the IoD’s campaign at www.iod.com/news-campaigns/mental-health