One year of Working Minds: IOSH becomes a partner
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has become the latest partner on the Working Minds campaign launched a year ago today.
Working Minds calls for change across Britain’s workplaces where stress, depression and anxiety are responsible for half of ill-health reports amongst workers.
Liz Goodwill, Head of the Work-Related Stress and Mental Health Policy Team at HSE, said: “When we launched Working Minds a year ago, we were under no illusion that stress, anxiety and depression were on the rise in the UK. Our aim was to ensure psychosocial risks are treated the same as physical ones, that employers recognise their legal duty to prevent work-related stress to support good mental health in the workplace, and that they have the tools they need to achieve this.
“Now, at a time when we have major challenges facing the country – leading to stressors both inside and outside of the workplace – welcoming new partners extends our reach and helps get our messages to businesses. That is why IOSH joining Working Minds is so important – these challenges can only be tackled successfully by working together – as organisations, as businesses, as teams.”
With IOSH now signed up it means the number of partners has more than doubled to 19 since launch. We are also delighted to have reached the significant milestone of one thousand Working Minds champions signed up to support and amplify campaign messages.
Ruth Wilkinson CMIOSH, Head of Health and Safety (Policy and Operations) at IOSH, the Chartered body and largest membership organisation for health and safety professionals. said: “We’re really pleased to be collaborating with the HSE and other UK partners on the Working Minds campaign. Good mental health is just as important as good physical health.
“Our work can impact our mental health, both positively or negatively, so decent work and good working environments are important. Employers can therefore play a key role in prevention, through good risk management, raising awareness, training people to spot the signs and symptoms of stress and by providing interventions to support colleagues.
“But a 2019 IOSH report revealed 80% of workers wouldn’t discuss their mental health with their line manager because they feared being stigmatised or judged incapable.”
The year ahead holds many opportunities and potential for you to make a difference where you work. The earlier a problem is tackled the less impact it will have for you, your teams and your business.
Get started today –
- Reach out and have conversations
- Recognise the signs and causes of stress
- Respond by agreeing relevant action points between employer and worker
- Reflect on the actions taken – have things improved?
- make it Routine to check back in on how things are going.
More helpful resources include:
- watch our stress and mental health at work video
- download a Talking Toolkit
- download our prevent stress at work poster
- download a risk assessment template
- get your free Every Mind Matters Mind Plan (nhs.uk)
Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, the law requires all employers to prevent work-related stress to support good mental health in the workplace.
About IOSH
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is the Chartered body and largest global membership organisation for health and safety professionals. Its vision is a safe and healthy world of work: iosh.com
