Centre for Mental Health

NHS should take a lead in implementing NICE guidance
on mental wellbeing at work,
says Sainsbury Centre

5 November 2009

New national guidance on how to promote mental health at work should be taken up as a priority by the NHS, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health joint chief executive Dr Bob Grove said today.

Responding to the publication of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on Promoting mental wellbeing through productive and healthy working conditions, Bob Grove said: "The evidence is clear. Mental distress happens in every workplace in the country. One in six of us will experience a mental health problem each year. The cost to employers is at least £1,000 a year for every person they employ. For the NHS, that adds up to a staggering £1.3 billion, or a quarter of the entire NHS mental health care budget.

"We call today upon the NHS to heed the NICE guidance and make the mental wellbeing of its workers a major priority. Good quality supervision and support for all staff, and active management of mental ill health when it arises, are vital and will save the NHS millions of pounds in reduced absence and turnover and in improved productivity.

"The NHS should be leading by example in the way it manages mental ill health at work. Today's guidance once again shows what needs to be done. Work is good for our mental health. And good mental health is a boost for anyone's business. We hope that many more employers will take the simple, often inexpensive, steps to improve the health of their staff and reap the benefits for many years to come."