Acas advises on dealing with depression
Acas has issued new advice to employers on how to spot signs of depression in the workplace to coincide with Depression Awareness Week, 21 to 26 April, and the publication of Acas’ new free booklet on Health, Work and Wellbeing which includes sample checklists and policies.
According to Acas, its research shows that bosses underestimate how much their colleagues and employees are suffering from stress, anxiety and depression. It also reveals that almost three in every ten employees will have a mental health problem in any one year and that people suffering from depression took an average of 30 days off for each sickness absence spell.
Acas’ advice on how to spot and deal with mental health problems at work includes a six step strategy.
1 ‘Keep your eyes open’ as the first sign that someone may have depression is often in changes in their day-to-day behaviour.
2 ‘But don’t make assumptions: We all have our ups and downs, so a change in behaviour doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a problem.
3 ‘Get to the root of the problem’: It’s rare for someone to voluntarily talk about a mental health problem – get them to open up.
4 ‘How can you help?’: Act accordingly when you establish what the cause of the problem is.
5 ‘Create a culture’ which eradicates the stigma mental health can carry.
6 ‘Walk the talk’: A policy will only work if lived out in practice.
This advice coincides with the release of Acas’ new free guide on Health, Work and Wellbeing, designed to helps businesses promote and manage a healthy workplace.
The advice and guide can be obtained from the link below:
http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2053
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