After the latest Bupa Wellbeing Index revealed 43% of the male workforce want more mental health support from their employers, a mental health expert has commented on how workplaces can step up.
Of the 8,000 UK adults surveyed by Bupa, 50% of male respondents admitted experiencing mental health challenges, with 65% of employees feeling there is stigma around men’s mental health.
Nathan Shearman, psychotherapist and director of therapy and training at mental health training provider Red Umbrella, feels the survey’s responses highlight the value of implementing mental health support in the workplace.
He explained: “Whilst the results are quite shocking, they are not altogether surprising.
“No matter how good your company might be at having supportive policies, reducing risk factors for poor mental health and creating a positive work environment - which are all important - there will always be employees affected by things outside of your business control that impact their work.
“Regardless of what it is, employees are looking to their employers more and more to provide those avenues of support.
“This means that both proactive support - like training - and reactive support - such as counselling - are both a part of the solution.
“The study shows the importance of having mental health support in the workplace. That could be through having mental health first aiders in the business or providing access to counselling and therapy.
“Only 20% of respondents said work was the top factor impacting their mental health, however all of them would have found that their mental health had an effect on their work.”
Stigma around men’s mental health continues to be prevalent, despite efforts to reduce it, and Shearman feels workplaces can adopt strategies that combat this.
He said: “We still know that men find it hardest to reach out for support for their mental health.
“The stigma around men’s wellbeing and the tendency to just ‘man up and get on with it’ continue to act as barriers to males feeling able to get support.
“Increased awareness and transparency from a business perspective around where the challenges for your workforce lie can go a long way to improving the wellbeing of your employees.
“Putting a connected strategy in place that works to reduce stigma and make the most of the support mechanisms you may already have in place, as well as strategically adding in services to meet unique challenges is the most effective way to address issues for all employees, but especially men.”
For more information on how Red Umbrella can support businesses with mental health training needs, visit red-umbrella.co.uk
