Nine out of ten workers in the UK have been impacted by mental health issues in some way, whether they have personally faced a challenge or someone close to them has.
This research, by Accenture, shows that the number of Brits who have experienced mental health problems in the past is far greater than we are led to believe.
It surveyed 2,000 workers, and found 66 per cent have themselves faced emotional difficulties, while 85 per cent know a relative, close friend or colleague who has.
Barbara Harvey, managing director at Accenture and mental health lead for the company in the UK, said: “It’s clear that mental health is not a minority issue; it touches almost all employees and can affect their ability to perform at work and live life to the fullest.”
While many of these cases might not stem from problems at work, employers need to be more proactive in supporting their members of staff to ensure their wellbeing, Accenture believes.
“The payoff is a healthier, happier organisation where people feel energised and inspired to perform at their best,” Ms Harvey stated.
According to the figures, 61 per cent of those who admitted they had faced a mental health challenge in the past had not spoken to anyone at work about it, with more than half (51 per cent) worrying that doing so would impact on their career progression. As many again believed sharing a mental health struggle would make them look weak in the eyes of their employer.
This comes after the Health and Safety Executive revealed that 15.4 million people took days off in 2017/18 due to work-related stress, anxiety and depression, which is a huge increase of three million over the year.
For more information about therapy in Chester, get in touch with us today.
Comments