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WORKERS
WORK RELATED STRESS AND POOR MENTAL HEALTH: AN EMERGING CRISIS
No matter where you work, your employer has a legal duty to identify risks and agree ways to prevent work-related stress and support good mental health.
Good work can help promote good mental health but this is not always the case.
Anyone can suffer with stress and poor mental health – it affects us all at different times and in different ways. There are things you can do to help look after your mental health. The important thing is to make talking about how you and your colleagues are feeling, normal.
If you are feeling signs of stress at work, it is important to talk to someone, for example your manager. If you talk to them as soon as possible, it will give them the chance to help and stop the situation getting worse.
Alternatively, think about talking to a colleague, GP or – if available – a trade union representative or member or your occupational health team.
RECOGNISE THE SIGNS OF STRESS
It is important that you, as well as your employer, recognise the signs of stress. This will help you understand how work related stress could be impacting on you and your mental health, and that of your co-workers.
Working Minds – Recognise – Work Right to keep Britain safe (campaign.gov.uk)
MENTAL HEALTH IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR WORK RELATED ILLNESS
Last year more than 17 million working days were lost as a result of stress, anxiety, or depression. While the full impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is yet to be fully understood, mental health issues are the number one reason given for work related illness in the UK. A recent survey by the charity Mind suggests that two in five employees mental health had worsened during the pandemic.
GET YOUR MIND PLAN
The NHS has created a simple tool that provides a free plan with tips to help you deal with stress and anxiety, improve your sleep, boost your mood and feel more in control.
MORE SUPPORT
The Charity Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
- Mind’s helplines provide information and support by phone and email.
- Local Minds offer face-to-face services across England and Wales. These services include talking therapies, peer support and advocacy.
- Side by Side is Mind’s supportive online community for anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
In addition it curates the Mental Health at Work advice portal which has 482 resources, from organisations across the UK, all aimed at helping you get to grips with workplace mental health.
Contact Details
Corporate Communications
2.2 Redgrave Court
Merton Rd
Bootle
L20 7HS
2.2 Redgrave Court
Merton Rd
Bootle
L20 7HS
