Employees who are stressed, anxious or feeling depressed won't beperforming as well when they are at work (presenteeism) and aremore likely to take days of sick. (Photo: Shutterstock)

According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), 15.4 million work days were lost in 2017/18 due towork-related stress, anxiety and depression. This accounted for 44percent of all work-related ill health.

The Centre for Mental Health, a leading charity providing lifechanging research, economic analysis and policy influence in mentalhealth, recently reported that mental health problems at work costthe UK economy £34.9 billion ($43.69 billion) last year.

Mental health at work is a growing problem in the workplace interms of presenteeism, absenteeism and staff retention. SarahHughes, Chief Executive at the Centre for Mental Health charity,sends a clear message to businesses: "Those employers that ignorethe issue, or who undermine the mental health of their staff, risknot only the health of the people who work for them but the wealthof their business and the health of the economy as a whole."

Why should businesses support the mental health of theiremployees?

The figures speak for themselves. Breathe HR reports that asmany as 1 in 6 employees are battling with mentalhealth conditions, such as stress, anxiety and depression. This hasa hugely negative impact on business in terms of the cost of lowerproductivity as a direct result of poor mental health.

While many business owners may take the view that the mentalhealth of their workers is nothing to do with them, ignoring theproblem is a financially poor and a socially irresponsibledecision.

Traditional ideas about workplace well-being focused on physicalhealth and safety to address the fact that workplaces were full ofhazards. This approach, while still relevant in certain industries,needs updating to include mental well-being at work.

The risk of physical injury and accidents involving machines (indeveloped countries at least) are far less these days. But,VitalityHealth Insurance reports a new epidemic; the mental healthimpact of sedentary jobs and stress.

Supporting the mental well-being of employees has huge benefitsto business. Let's take a look at how.

Improved productivity

Do employees do their best work when they are happy and engagedor when they are distracted and upset? Employees who are stressed,anxious or feeling depressed won't be performing as well when theyare at work (presenteeism) and are more likely to take daysof sick.

Healthy, happy employees will be more engaged with their workand more efficient and effective in their jobs resulting inimproved productivity. It's a simple as that.

Reduced presenteeism and absenteeism

Thriving at Work, the 2017 UKgovernment-sponsored review of employer support for mental health,estimated the annual cost to UK employers of poor mental health wasbetween £33bn and £42bn, with more than half of the cost comingfrom "presenteeism" (when people are less productive at work due topoor health).

Depression and mental health symptoms like anxiety are highlycorrelated with presenteeism and the number of sick days a persontakes. Addressing mental well-being at work and rooting out toxicwork cultures leads to happier, healthier employees. The result? Areduction in presenteeism and absenteeism.

Staff retention

In a business where a focus on well-being is lacking and theculture is poor, stress levels are much more likely to beconsistently high. This has consequences on employee engagement,productivity and morale, and creates a breeding ground for highstaff turnover.

While there are many factors outside of work that can impact anindividual employee's mental well-being, there are still a lot ofthings employers can do to address stress in the workplace (whichwill only add to someone's lot if they are already struggling). Aculture of well-being promotes happier and healthier employees whoare much less likely to seek alternative employment.

Attracting talent

According to a report by Forbes, 87 percent of employeesconsider health and wellness packages when choosing an employer.Also, nearly 54 percent of Gen Zers and 58 percent of millennialsconsider company wellness programs important or extremely importantwhen making a job decision. Businesses supporting mental healthstand out from the crowd.

What businesses really think about mental health

Recent research by recruitment consultancy Robert Walterssuggests that an overwhelming majority of employers andprofessionals agree that businesses have a responsibility tosupport the mental health of their staff. A substantial 93 percentof employers and 85 percent of professionals agree that employeesare more effective in their role when they feel that their mentalhealth and well-being is supported at work.

While research hearteningly suggests that business leadersrecognize the benefits of supporting the mental health of theirstaff, only 51 percent of employers surveyed by Robert Walters currently have amental health policy in place. Also, almost two thirds of employeesare finding it difficult to access information about the mentalwell-being strategies offered by their employers.

There is still a long way to go.

The future

Change is afoot. The appetite by businesses to build a positiveworkplace culture is growing. In terms of supporting mental healthin the workplace, this can be seen through the increasing number ofbusinesses investing in training for Mental Health First Aiders.

Research by Deloitte has found the return oninvestment (ROI) on workplace mental health interventions isoverwhelmingly positive, with an average ROI of 4:1. The soonerbusinesses wise up to this fact the better for individuals, thebusiness bottom line, UK productivity and society as a whole.

Businesses can and should play a role in supporting the mentalhealth of its employees.

Dakota Murphey has a wealth of experiencein business management, with over 10 years of experience she'sworked on a number of successful campaigns. She now enjoys sharing herknowledge through her writing and connecting with like-mindedprofessionals.