Marie Duffy
PR and Communications Officer, Mental Health Ireland
Employers are recognising the pivotal role they play in shaping not just the bottom line, but also the wellbeing of their employees.
In 2022, a Mental Health Ireland survey emphasised the need for mental health support in workplaces. About 70% of employees revealed that work pressures had a negative impact on their wellbeing. The survey also revealed that 90% of employers had observed an increase in mental health challenges in their workforce since the onset of the pandemic.
The high costs of ignoring mental health
Not supporting employees’ mental health is detrimental to the employee and the employer. Employees dealing with mental health challenges are at greater risk of reduced performance, absenteeism and burnout. Poor wellbeing can lead to high turnover rates, incurring time and financial costs associated with recruiting and training new staff.
By prioritising mental health and wellbeing, employers
stand to gain motivated and productive employees.
Navigating employee wellbeing
To help employers support employees’ mental health effectively, Mental Health Ireland has developed the Wellness Works Workplace Framework, offering guidance and tools for addressing mental health challenges in the workplace. It presents three recommendations:
- Organisations should conduct psychosocial risk assessments to identify elements of the working environment that may adversely affect employees.
- Employers should collaborate with their staff to develop a workplace mental health policy, with strong leadership at its core. Involving employees from the outset is crucial.
- Managers should receive adequate training to facilitate conversations about mental health and wellbeing with their teams.
Benefits of employee wellbeing
By prioritising mental health and wellbeing, employers stand to gain motivated and productive employees. They can harness new skills, promote innovation and empower their workforce to be more confident and creative in their roles. In turn, they can boost business success.
Shaping a healthier future
Employers hold a unique position in shaping their organisation’s culture. Their commitment to positive change can inspire the entire workforce to create healthier workplaces and a more sustainable future.
To further assist employers in supporting their employees’ wellbeing, Mental Health Ireland offers a free self-directed e-learning module. This resource is tailored to workplace leaders, managers and wellbeing champions, providing valuable insights and strategies for fostering a mentally healthy workplace.