What you need to do

Ensure that managers have received mental health awareness training and understand they have legal responsibilities regarding mental health in the workplace, including stress and bullying.

 

Why this is important for you

Employers have a duty of care to their employees, including both physical and mental health. Training managers about mental health is important as they are
often the first point of contact for employees, so being able to identify and
deal appropriately with mental health issues is crucial. Employees feel better
supported by a line manager who is comfortable talking about mental health
and knows what support to provide or signpost, and they are more likely to be
able to continue working successfully.

 

How you can achieve this

Training your staff on mental health is important to promote mental wellbeing,
raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental ill health. Managers
need to be aware of how the law protects mental health and wellbeing in the workplace and the legal implications that could result from their own behaviour as well as that of others. Inform people about their rights under the Equality Act 2010.

There should be a stepped approach to training in mental health with defined
mental health functions within the organisation. There should be a clear structure in place within the organisation for the sharing of sensitive information on mental health, with all employees being made aware of who they can speak to about their own mental health.

 

How you can show you have achieved this

• Evidence of managers’ attendance at mental health awareness training courses.
• Details of training opportunities e.g. courses/in-house/e-learning.

 

Toolkit - National Resources

 

ACAS provides guidance on the following:

Online training

 

MIND have the following guides

 

Training

eLearning Courses

Rethink also provide training on health and wellbeing.

Mental Health First Aid England provide training and resources for workplaces.

 

 

What you need to do

Carry out a stress management risk assessment for the organisation - and act on the results.

 

Why this is important for you

Carrying out a stress risk assessment at an organisational level is an effective way to identify issues that potentially impact on a group or possibly large numbers of employees and look at how to prevent and manage root causes of work related stress.

This is an effective way to ensure the impact of any potential stressors is minimised, thereby reducing the impact on the organisation.

 

How you can achieve this

Find out what risks there are to the mental health of your staff. You could make use of the HSE Management Standards Indicator Tool, use an alternative survey or seek support from a qualified person to highlight areas of work which could have a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of staff.

 

How you can show you have achieved this

• Copy of workplace stress risk assessment being conducted.
• Copy of the workplace stress assessment actions.

 

What you need to do

Have a clear mental health and stress management policy which follows HSE guidance on management standards for workplace stress.

 

Why this is important for you

Having a clear mental health and management of stress policy is important as it will provide both employees and employers with information needed to appropriately manage mental health and stress in the workplace. It will also raise awareness so employees know what to do if they feel they are experiencing issues.

 

How you can achieve this

You should have a mental wellbeing/stress policy that details preventative approaches and support.

 

How you can show you have achieved this

• Copy of mental health and management of stress policy in place.
• Evidence of processes being used.

 

Toolkit - National Resources

 

HSE has guidance and templates on stress policies.individuals and organisations helpful tips and resources on how to keep themselves active and engaged whilst at work.

You can download a Mental Skills Training Toolkit and Guidance from St Basils’ website.

What you need to do

The organisation is prepared to make reasonable adjustments to work patterns and structures for anyone affected by poor mental health.

 

Why this is important for you

Adjustments for employees affected by poor mental health are mostly simple, practical and cost-effective procedures designed to allow them to stay in or return to work. From a business perspective, making adjustments to help employees with poor mental health can produce many benefits, including reduced sickness absence, greater staff engagement and productivity, reduced staff turnover, recruitment and costs. Making a few small adjustments to enable an employee to continue doing their job is far less expensive than recruiting and training new staff. Creating a good working environment by making adjustments to work patterns or structures to help them feel comfortable and capable can aid their recovery.

 

How you can achieve this

It is vital that people with recognised mental health problems are given appropriate support to stay in work, in addition to their rights under the Equality Act 2010. This might include one to one support, mentoring/coaching, regular work reviews, and appropriate adjustments to work, such as flexible working hours or changes to certain tasks, or having a recovery action plan in place if appropriate. You could also review job designs and role descriptions to ensure that they are appropriate and conducive to productive work.

Employees who experience mental ill health and have to take time off work should be supported to make a speedy and appropriate return, with necessary adjustments made for their successful return to work through regular contact with a manager.

The organisation should be aware of government initiatives such as Access to Work.

 

How you can show you have achieved this

• Evidence to show that the employer has changed work patterns or
  environment for staff experiencing mental health conditions.
• Reviews of work plan undertaken and notes of support given.

 

Toolkit - National Resources

The Government provides guidance on Access to Work website to those who have disability or a health condition.

ACAS has a flexible working guidance for employees on how to make requests.

 

What you need to do

Employees should have access to a range of self- management tools online to help them manage their own mental health and wellbeing.

 

Why this is important for you

Signposting and providing employees with access to online tools to help manage their mental health is often a cost-effective and easy way for staff to safeguard and improve their mental health and wellbeing.

‘Thrive’ for example, which is an app that uses evidence-based techniques, has been shown to halve the recovery time for mild depression or anxiety when used regularly. Another study found that depressive symptoms were significantly reduced with individuals who used some form of an online app self-management tool.

 

How you can achieve this

Employees should be aware of relevant online self-management tools and be able to access services during dedicated time at work or be able to work flexible hours.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has been proven to help mental health
problems. Beating the Blues® is a computerised (CBT) programme for
depression and anxiety, recommended by (NICE).

Big White Wall is an online mental health and wellbeing service offering self-help programmes.

Self-help books are available from libraries or to download. NHS offer online mental health services and digital tools.

 

How you can show you have achieved this

• Evidence to show that staff have access to tools to manage their own
  mental health.
• Leaflets/self-help guides on display.
• Intranet pages/newsletters with links to tools.
• Verbal discussions with staff.

 

Toolkit - National Resources

 

Mental Health at Work has an extensive range of resources on:

• Support for line managers
• Colleagues and staff
• Ways to assess my organisation’s approach
• Ideas to improve workplace culture

• Help to develop policy and practice

 

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has been proven to help mental health problems. Beating the Blues® is a computerised (CBT) programme for depression and anxiety, recommended by (NICE).

Big White Wall is an online mental health and wellbeing service offering self-help programmes.

Self-help books are available from libraries or to download. NHS offer online mental health services and digital tools.

Mind have the following guides available:

Mentally well at work

Five ways to wellbeing tips

How to promote mental health and wellbeing

 

Free to download awareness posters available from Enlighten Learning Consultancy. To trigger the augmented reality content of the poster you will need to download the Zappar App (free on App Store or Google Play Store) and a Wi-Fi or 3G/4G connection. Open the Zappar App and point your phone’s camera at the code on the poster.

Panic Attacks AR Poster

Dealing With Stress AR Poster

Depression AR Poster

PTSD AR Poster

The British Dietetic Association has created a Thrive at Work page which includes resources that will help you fulfil this criteria and others.

Active working provides individuals and organisations helpful tips and resources on how to keep themselves active and engaged whilst at work.

Samaritans have an online workplace wellbeing training which takes about 90 minutes.

The Stress Institute® is a center for the collection and dissemination of information on the impact of stress on health and provides stress reduction and mindfulness training.

You can download a Mental Skills Training Toolkit and Guidance from St Basils’ website.

NHS One You has resources on the following issues; stress less, eat better, alcohol, smoking, physical activities and sleep.

NHS have a “How are you feeling?” tool which helps to asses emotional wellbeing and have open conversations.

The Mental Health Foundation has an extensive range of resources on health and wellbeing for employers and individuals.

Every Mind Matters helps you to get a free action plan with simple steps to help you look after your mental health with clear NHS advice. 

 

Toolkit - Local Resources

 

Birmingham 

Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust - Healthy Minds provides information on how to access support for depression and anxiety.

Birmingham City Council  has resources and signposting information on for Health & Wellbeing in Birmingham.

Birmingham City Council  provides access to a health and wellbeing library. The Library offers plenty of resources and support to help an individual look after their health. The extensive range of books, CDs and DVDs covers every health and healthy lifestyles topic.

 

Coventry

The Coventry City Council website has information on support available on how to improve wellbeing in the workplace.

Healthy Lifestyles Coventry is a free support service to help you to lose weight, give up smoking, get more active, cut down on alcohol, improve your overall wellbeing and get a free NHS Health Check.

 

Dudley

Let's Get has a wide range of resources for the Dudley area on mental wellbeing, healthy eating, physical activity, smoking, alcohol and how to improve your overall wellbeing as well as get a free NHS Health Check.

 

Sandwell

Healthy Sandwell is a one-stop shop for a range of health and wellbeing services. You can also contact Healthy Sandwell by phone 0800 011 4656 or 0121 569 5100.

 

Walsall

One You Walsall is a healthy lifestyle service dedicated to improving health and wellbeing in Walsall which you can access via 01922 444 044.

 

Warwickshire

Warwickshire Mind provide training, guidance and support including drop-in sessions. For further information you can contact them on 02477 712 288.

Warwickshire libraries has self-help Reading Well Books on Prescription (BOP). The books are available in various formats such as hardcopies, audiobooks, and e-books.

Warwickshire County Council provides guidance on mental health and wellbeing, healthy lifestyles, school health and wellbeing, drug and alcohol support services and how to keep yourself healthy.

One thing encourages all to get a free NHS health check.

Fitter Futures provide free 12-week programmes on weight management, physical activities and healthy lifestyles from the ages of 12 to adulthood.

Toolkit - Regional Resources

 

A workplace poster with information signposting to a range of health and wellbeing services is available to download from The Waiting Room. The Waiting Room website covers services across Birmingham and Solihull.

What you need to do

Managers are able to support staff and signpost them to counselling and psychotherapy services to enable them to remain in or return to work.

 

Why this is important for you

Being able to support and signpost staff who are struggling with their mental health to appropriate services such as counselling is an important step for individuals to be able to recover and return and / or stay in work.

Training for line managers is vital to embed effective mental health practices in the workplace. Forty-nine percent of managers said they would welcome some specific basic training on mental health conditions, and 55% believe that online information and guidance would help them to better support and signpost employees to appropriate support (BiTC, 2017, Mental Health at Work Report).

 

How you can achieve this

Managers should take time to find out about the resources and services in their area - for example:

• Knowledge of local support services eg IAPT Access to work for mental
  health service.
• Any in-house or contracted services for support like an employee assistance programme offering counselling.

 

How you can show you have achieved this

• Verbal discussions with staff and managers.
• Completed managers’ questionnaire as part of staff survey.
• Example of guidance provided by manager.