Darren Padgett: Time to break silence on mental health

The invisible illness, not recognisable by a cast or crutches, hides below the surface. But just like the common cold, mental health problems can affect anybody in any walk of life. Yet it’s shrouded in silence. Out of sight, out of mind seems to dictate when it comes to depression and anxiety, and for many businesses, mental health remains taboo.

Many employees feel unable to discuss their mental ill health for fear of discrimination or judgement.

But we need to address this stigma, break down barriers and ensure employees aren’t suffering in silence. As director of Team Activ, I’ve seen that businesses have so much to gain from prioritising their employees’ mental health and wellbeing.

In a modern workforce, paying attention to employees’ mental health should not be an afterthought. It should be a matter of routine. Not least because businesses have everything to gain.

A study by charity Business in The Community (BITC) and YouGov found that more than 75 per cent of the 20,000 participants aged 16-64 had experienced poor mental health, and two thirds of those with mental health problems felt work was a contributing factor.

The study also revealed a lack of employer awareness and responsiveness. More than half of the employees who disclosed their symptoms said their employers took no action.

The report showed that just 22 per cent of managers had received training in spotting mental health issues and supporting struggling employees.

But most shocking was that 63 per cent of managers said they felt obliged to put the interests of their organisation above the wellbeing of their workforce.

Why is it so hard for bosses to understand that maintaining employee happiness and wellbeing is an essential part of building a strong business?

Businesses that close their eyes to employee wellbeing are the ones who stand to lose. Employers who leave their workforce feeling unsupported are more likely to be affected by lower productivity, low staff morale and presenteeism.

With 15 million absence days attributed to stress, anxiety and depression in 2013, mental health problems are the leading cause of illness absence in the UK, costing the economy more than £8bn.

In contrast, businesses that invest in wellbeing save around £300 of these costs per employee. FTSE 100 companies that have taken action and invested in employee wellbeing outperformed competitors financially by 10 per cent on average. With such glaring consequences of neglecting mental ill health, why are so many businesses missing the mark?

The silence needs to end. Businesses need to understand that, just like physical health problems, mental health needs to be addressed and catered for in the workplace. This doesn’t have to mean google-plex style offices or boss-come-therapists. It can be as simple as ensuring employees have access to stress-busting activities and to provide management with training to spot and support employees with mental health concerns.

Small steps, like providing time away from desks, ensuring full lunch breaks or getting the chance to speak to managers, and being open to talking about stress before it has a chance to escalate and affect the business, can make a huge difference to employee wellbeing.

As director of a social enterprise working with businesses across Yorkshire, I’ve seen the benefits of using physical activity to boost mental wellbeing. Proven to alleviate anxiety and stress, exercise provides a quick and cost effective wellbeing fix. And businesses are recognising the benefits; over 50 businesses have joined our wellbeing scheme in association with Barnsley Council which encourages employees to walk to work.

At a time where mental health issues are affecting more people than ever, it is vital that employers work to overcome stigma and work hard to prioritise wellbeing.

We need to develop a culture where mental health can be discussed without discrimination, where mental health is handled just as seriously as physical health and where those suffering are supported, not patronised.

Darren Padgett is Founder and Director at Team Activ.