Why workplace wellbeing matters

Productivity and well-being are inseparable. Yet mental health often goes overlooked and undervalued. With the potential to decrease staff costs, improve employee retention, increase workplace productivity, enhance company reputation and fulfil legal and ethical responsibilities. It is in the best interest of employees and employers to invest in mental health.

Every organisation should strive to create supportive environments that nurture a happy, healthy team, and with 1 in 6.8 people experiencing a mental health need in the workplace it’s something we need to be talking about (14.7%).¹ Investing in mental health assures you have the ability to prevent and protect your team with early intervention and preventative actions made with confidence and certainty.

This blog post delves into why investing in training isn’t just beneficial, but paramount to your success as a business, and the staggering return on investment embedding mental health training can have within your workplace.

There are six crucial reasons mental health should be a topic of discussion within your team and a clear and concise means of supporting your team should be in place. By assembling indispensable, inquisitive people as points of contact for mental health support, and using sources of evidence based knowledge, you will have invested in essential pieces of the puzzle and be well on your way to being a forward-thinking, formidable organisation.

Cost Savings: Addressing mental health concerns early can reduce absenteeism, turnover, and the overall impact of unaddressed mental health concerns on workplace morale and effectiveness. This is a simple solution with long term results. It is believed that 57% of absence days related to sickness in the UK can be attributed to mental health. ²

Employee Retention and Engagement: Organisations that prioritise mental health create an environment where employees feel valued and supported, increasing the likelihood of retention, engagement, and loyalty.

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities: With 47% of all British workers finding their mental health has debilitated due to the cost of living crisis, there has never been a more pressing responsibility by the employer to build an internal infrastructure that prevents employees mental wellbeing from weakening further.³ Above all else, acknowledging and addressing mental health concerns aligns with ethical responsibilities and a duty of care that employers have towards their workforce.

Productivity and Performance: Employee well-being directly impacts productivity, creativity, and overall job performance. With Mental Health First Aid you have the tools to identify and address concerns early, administer appropriate action that is underpinned by professional knowledge, and know with certainty you are doing all you can for everyone involved.

Mental health concerns are deeply personal, yet impact a person in every facet of their life. Your team do not have a duty to share their concerns, but will if they feel they will be met with empathetic, impartial, advice and support. Whether this be related to stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders and or another concern, you as an employer can show your solidarity with a person’s individual experience by being understanding and accepting with comprehension to know what can be done to support them. Mental Health education does all of this, and can strengthen your workforce too.

To support you and our community we deliver Mental Health First Aid Training, and refresher training for those who have taken a course before 2021 to ensure you are proficient in providing mental health help when it’s needed most.