Centre for Mental Health welcomes new research on employers' understanding of mental health at work

21 December 2010

"British businesses are becoming more aware that mental distress is a fact of life and that it can affect anyone in any workplace," Centre for Mental Health joint chief executive Professor Bob Grove said today.

Responding to a new survey by the Shaw Trust, Bob Grove said: "Two years ago, 40 per cent of employers in Britain did not think that anyone working for them would ever have a mental health problem. That has now fallen to just one in ten. It is also reassuring to see that nine out of ten managers would be happy to talk about mental health with an employee.

"It is worrying, however, that four out of ten employers see people with mental health problems as a 'significant risk' at work. Misunderstandings about mental ill health remain a major barrier to equality and action must continue to tackle stigma throughout our society.

"Every day, one worker in six will be experiencing a mental health difficulty, most commonly depression or anxiety. The response of their line manager can make all the difference to their chances of staying in work and recovering well. Most employers want to do the right thing by their workers but many lack the confidence to know how to respond appropriately.

"Centre for Mental Health now offers training for line managers to help them to respond effectively to a colleague when they become unwell through the Impact on Depression programme. Its success shows that through education line managers can become more positive about mental health at work and respond better when it affects their workplaces."