May 8-14 is Mental Health Awareness Week and AWE is backing the Mental Health Foundation’s campaign to boost awareness of mental health as a workplace asset.
Nearly two thirds of us have experienced mental ill health at some point in our lifetime. According to the Foundation, mental health problems are all too common in the workplace and are the leading cause of sickness absence.
A staggering 70 million work days are lost each year due to mental health problems in the UK, costing employers approximately £2.4 billion per year.
Work is a significant contributor to mental health and research has shown that having a job, and being at work, is important to protecting and maintaining our mental health. Recognising this, AWE provides a workplace programme of advice and support, including help to manage emotional wellbeing, anxiety, depression and stress.
One worker who experienced mental health issues said that coming back to work was a major factor in their recovery: “I settled in very quickly. I had new managers and wasn’t sure whether to tell them, but when I did they were really supportive.
“Having the empathy, understanding and encouragement of my managers was key in my decision to go for promotion, which I achieved. This support has really been instrumental in helping me feel valued.”
For more information on Mental Health Awareness Week and the Mental Health Foundation, go to https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk