It’s important to create an honest and open environment in the workplace where employees feel comfortable talking about stress and mental health. When the stigma around poor mental health is removed, employees are more likely to talk about their feelings and seek the support they need.
The prevalence of stress in the workplace
Has your work caused you stress this year? If not, you’re in the minority. Two-thirds of workers in the UK have felt stressed or suffered anxiety because of work. 60% of employees surveyed by ACAS cited high workload as a cause of their work-related stress or anxiety, while 42% cited the way they were managed. It’s no surprise that only 8% of those polled said their employer was “very good” at preventing their staff from feeling stressed or anxious about their work.
Stress is a big problem in British workplaces. About 900,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2022/23 according to the HSE, adding up to approximately 13 million working days lost. Stress, depression or anxiety accounted for almost half of all work-related illnesses.
While employers are strictly obliged to prevent injury and disease at work, there’s no legal obligation regarding mental health. Many employees throughout Britain find themselves under intense pressure due to high workloads and long working hours, mismanagement and workplace bullying.
How stress affects our health
The impact of high levels of stress on employees is not just emotional and psychological. Chronic stress weakens the immune system and increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and unhealthy weight gain.
High stress levels can also lead to insomnia, which can, in turn, cause a host of health problems and harm job performance. Additionally, many employees turn to alcohol and stress eating to cope with stress (25% and 14% respectively).
In short, chronic stress can lead to the development of physical health problems that take an additional toll on the workforce.
The role of managers
While there are many measures organisations can put in place to tackle workplace stress, updating management practices should be the priority. 72% of employees surveyed by ACAS said it was a manager’s role to recognise and take steps to mitigate stress and anxiety at work, but only 43% said they would be willing to talk to their manager about this issue. This discrepancy indicates a significant gap in trust between employees and their managers.
It may also be the case that managers lack the understanding, awareness and sensitivity needed to identify signs of stress in their employees. This may prevent them from taking steps to tackle the causes of stress or help their employees cope with stress.
How mental health first aid training helps
Mental Health First Aid Training gives managers the skills to recognise and tackle stress and other work-related mental health issues. These courses train managers and other employees to spot the symptoms of poor mental health, teach them how to approach this sensitive topic with colleagues and empower them to give sound advice.
Safety First Aid Training holds both full 2-Day Mental Health First Aider Courses and 1-Day Mental Health First Aid Champion Courses online.
Read our other blogs for more information on first aid or contact us for further advice and information on our courses.
About the author:
Jo Stokes is a writer, marketer and trained first aider at Safety First Aid.