Adrian Wakeling, Senior Policy Adviser at ACAS comments: “Mental health issues can affect people’s personal lives, wellbeing and morale at home. But it can also impact on their performance at work and be costly for businesses. Approaching a member of staff about their mental health can be very challenging for a manager or a work colleague. To coincide with Mental Health Awareness week, we have offered some top tips on how best to manage mental health in the workplace.”

Acas' top tips:

Keep your eyes open: The first sign that someone may have depression or a problem with their mental health is often in changes in their day-to-day behaviour. This could be uncharacteristic behaviour such as not being able to cope with their work, seeming distracted, a sudden loss in motivation or absenteeism. Look out for these signs as a potential warning that someone may be suffering from the early signs of depression.

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. If you do notice inconsistent behaviour, then try to establish whether it’s just a blip, or perhaps the signs of a more serious problem.

Get to the root of the problem: It’s rare for someone to voluntarily talk about a mental health problem. Approaching a colleague who you feel may be suffering from a mental health issue is not easy. Try and arrange a moment to catch someone privately, and informally ask if they are feeling ok and happy.

How you can help:Depression or anxiety can sometimes be caused because of a work issue or a personal one. Act accordingly when you establish what the cause of the problem is. If it’s work related then you have the responsibility and control to help remedy it. If it’s a domestic issue, then think hard about the changes you can implement to make things easier, such as flexible working. If they have not already found support, point them in the right direction towards help from their GP or a counsellor.

Create a culture: Workplaces need to have a culture where individuals feel comfortable to disclose their mental health condition to their manager if they want to. The long-term aim should be to create a working environment which eradicates the stigma mental health can carry. Introducing policies will help with this, so staff know and feel comfortable in feeling able to talk about the topic. Making support options available, like employment assistance programmes or access to occupational health can also help.

Walk the talk: A policy will only work if lived out in practice. Work with your HR manager and team to ask them to train management and staff, and teach them how to handle things sensitively. Evidence also suggests that exercise, a balanced diet and a healthy work pattern can help treat mild depression, so ask the company to provide advice and encouragement in these areas. Acas has free guidance on mental health at work available at.
www.acas.org.uk/mentalhealth