MHA Week Special: How can we keep moving in the right direction?

The law on Mental Health at work is clear.

Employers have a duty of care and must treat mental and physical health as equally important. And what better time than during Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 (May 13-May 19) for employers to ask how well they are meeting that obligation? Do they do enough?

This year, the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is Movement: Moving more for our Mental Health.

The benefits of physical activity on the mind are well-documented and if nothing else, employers should be ensuring their teams are encouraged to regularly include some movement during their day. Perhaps a lunchtime walk or some simple stretches away from the desk.

But are bosses also going far enough in ensuring that the work environment is supportive and one where people feel able to discuss issues and ask for help and possibly, more importantly, really feel listened to? Are firms creating a culture where the work life balance is conducive to positive mental health outcomes?

We’ve been asking those pertinent questions of people across the nation and various sectors to really see if things are moving in the right direction and if there’s more to be done for mental health awareness.

What do the numbers say?

Despite flexibility and hybrid working soaring, it might come as a surprise that this has not been reflected in the same increase in the number of people who feel they strike the right work/life balance.

In fact, that number has fallen by almost 10 per cent in the last two years. Our statistics show 69% felt they were getting it right in 2022 but that has slipped to 61% in 2024. In education, that figure was even lower at just 59%.

The findings also reveal the number of people who believe their organisation is doing enough to support their mental health and wellbeing also fell from 66% in 2022 to 59% in 2024.

Findings were more positive when it came to people who felt their manager cared about them as an individual with 77% in the public sector and 73% in the private sector answering yes.

What does this really mean?

While organisations are getting some things right and mental health awareness is higher than it’s ever been, more needs to be done to get things moving in the right direction, according to Kate Pritchard, Head of Consultancy at People Insight.

“More firms are offering flexible and hybrid working arrangements than ever before but according to these findings, that is not necessarily translating into an increased level of contentment when it comes to the work/life balance yet.

“Again, while around three quarters of people do believe their manager cares about them as an individual, the number is significantly lower when it comes to those who believe their organisation is doing enough to support their mental health.

“Mental Health awareness and its impact particularly in the workplace is still evolving and that means employers are still having to adapt and adjust their strategies and structures to support the wellbeing of their workforce. There has been a seismic shift in working patterns in a very short space of time, so it is little wonder that to a certain extent employers are playing catch up and may not yet have properly tackled the pros and cons of more flexibility.

“But the reality of it is they need to move quicker to turn the tide and see those all important numbers increase instead of fall. Thorough, detailed and regular employee surveys can help to get things moving in that direction at a faster pace and help employers to not only keep up but to get ahead in any rapidly-changing environment.”

What can employers do to raise Mental Health Awareness?

“It’s been said before but can never be said too many times when it comes to Mental Health, talking and listening are vital,” says Kate. “Opening the lines of communication is a must but so is proving that you have listened with affirmative actions to really make a difference.

“That’s why we are so passionate about ensuring employers connect with their staff but also about giving them the tools they need to create and consistently maintain a great employee experience no matter how quickly the world around them might be changing.”

What other ways can we support Mental Health Awareness Week?

The theme is movement, a simple call to action but there are lots of ways to help support the Mental Health Foundation this week.

Even if you have not thought about it yet, a call out to all staff to wear green on Friday for a small donation could be a way to not only contribute to a really great cause but also to start those all important conversations and give a very clear sign to your workforce that their mental health is a priority.

And take a look here for any other ways in which you could support Mental Health Awareness Week 2024.

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week