Mental Health and Well-being
One in four of us experience problems with our mental health in the course of a year, making mental health and well-being an important issue for the workplace.
Quick links:
- Mental health and well-being and the workplace
- Employers' responsibilities around stress
- Tackling stigma and discrimination around mental health issues
- Mental Health Commendation Award
- Mentally healthy workplace training
- Scotland’s mental health first aid course
- Further information and support on mental and well-being
Mental health and well-being and the workplace
The topic of mental health is moving up the agenda for employers, as growing research demonstrates the importance of mental health and well-being in relation to our physical health, social inclusion and productivity.
A recent study carried out by the University of Strathclyde on behalf of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), reported that employees take, on average, 21 days for each mental health-related sickness absence spell.
Stress, depression and anxiety are reported as the most common reasons for absence.
Employers' responsibilities around stress
Employers have a responsibility to support staff who may be suffering from stress, either work-related, or otherwise, by following the Health and Safety Executive's Management Standards for Tackling Work-Related Stress, which highlight the following aspects of work which may affect staff stress levels:
- demands
- control
- support
- relationships
- roles
- change.
By managing these organisational aspects of work, and reducing levels of stress in the workforce, employers will see the benefits in the form of increased productivity, reduction in accident levels, lower sickness absence rates, and improved staff morale.
→ Read more on Management Standards for Tackling Work-Related Stress
Tackling stigma and discrimination around mental health issues
By tackling stigma and discrimination around mental health problems in the workplace, employers can make a positive impact on the lives of people who are experiencing, or have experienced, mental illness.
Challenging negative assumptions about mental health problems and recovery from them helps everyone, and means people are more likely to seek help earlier and recover more quickly.
'see me', Scotland's anti-stigma campaign, has a range of free resources, including posters and leaflets, that can be displayed in the workplace to stimulate discussion and help improve attitudes.
→ To find out more, visit the See Me Scotland website (external site)
Mental Health Commendation Award
The Healthy Working Lives Mental Health Commendation Award recognises excellence in promoting mentally healthy workplaces.
The Healthy Working Lives Silver Award and Gold Award also require employers to take steps to promote mental health in the workplace.
→ Find out more about our Award Programme
Mentally healthy workplace training
Developed over a number of years with employers, mental health service users and expert advisers, this training package from Healthy Working Lives covers many aspects of developing mentally healthy workplaces, including tackling stigma and discrimination, managing personal stress, supportive management practices and legal requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act.
→ Find out more about Mentally Healthy Workplace Training
Scotland's mental health first aid course
Scotland’s mental health first aid is a 12-hour course which teaches people how to recognise, and support a person with a mental health problem, or who is in crisis. The first aid is given to provide comfort, and preserve life until appropriate help is received or the crisis resolves.
→ To find out more, visit Scotland's Mental Health First Aid website (external site).
Further information and support on mental health and well-being
- Email your query now
- Call our Adviceline on 0800 019 2211
Mentally Healthy Workplace Training
See above
Work Positive
This step-by-step process assists workplaces to identify and reduce potential causes of stress – a very important health and safety issue for all workplaces.
WellScotland (external site)
Website of The National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being. The site provides news on mental health in Scotland, details of research, a database of support agencies and services, practical top-tips for maintaining positive mental health, and a useful glossary of common terms.
See Me Scotland (external site)
Scotland's national campaign to challenge stigma and discrimination around mental ill-health.
Choose Life (external site)
The national strategy and action plan to reduce suicide and self-harm offers information and free training on how to intervene when someone is contemplating suicide.
Breathing Space (external site)
Breathing Space is a free and confidential phoneline service for any individual, who is experiencing low mood or depression, or who is unusually worried and in need of someone to talk to. Call 0800 83 85 87, 6pm-2am
Scotland's Mental Health First Aid Training (external site)
This comprehensive training package gives participants the skills to deal with mental health crises using a similar approach to physical first aid courses.
The Scottish Recovery Network (SRN) (external site)
SRN raises awareness that people can and do recover from health problems, works to increase understanding of what helps people recover and stay well, and builds capacity for recovery by highlighting and supporting examples of good practice.
Samaritans (external site)
Provides confidential, emotional support for people experiencing distress or despair. Also provides a number of courses for businesses to help tackle stress in the workplace.
