More than half of UK employees have experienced a mental health problem, with depression and stress the most common mental health issues for workers, according to new research.
A survey of 1,000 employees carried out in November found 57 per cent have suffered from mental health problems while in employment, with 43 per cent suffering from stress and 26 per cent from depression. Depression is the fastest-growing reason for people to use the employee counselling helpline included with their group income protection product, according to the research from Canada Life Group Insurance.
Of those who experienced mental health issues, 51 per cent have taken time off from work as a result, with 14 per cent off for longer than a month off, and 5 per cent who were off for more than 6 months. The research found 60 per cent said their mental health issues have negatively affected their performance at work.
The findings also indicate that working environments can have a negative impact on mental health. One in five – 19 per cent – of all employees say their workplace has had a negative impact on their mental health, with the most common causes being high pressure and excessive workloads, both impacting 25 per cent of those polled. Workplace bullying or unpleasant behaviour from a boss is also cited by 15 per cent as a cause of mental health worries.
How the workplace negative impacts mental health
| Aspect of work which negatively impacts mental health | %* |
| High pressure/stressful role | 25% |
| Excessive workloads and/or working hours | 25% |
| Bullying or unpleasant interactions with a boss | 15% |
| Bullying or unpleasant interactions with colleagues | 11% |
*% among those who agree work has negatively impacted their mental health
Almost half – 44 per cent – of those experiencing mental health issues have wanted to take time off but felt unable to do so, while 20 per cent chose not to not ask for time off due to feeling embarrassed, 9 per cent were afraid that their employer would treat them differently as a result and 11 per cent were too scared to ask their employer.
The data shows 53 per cent have not made their employer aware of their mental health problems, with privacy the reason for 49 per cent, worrying their employer might think they can’t do their job properly a concern for 17 per cent and embarrassment an issue for 11 per cent. The survey found 18 per cent were also too embarrassed to tell colleagues, highlighting the stigma that remains around mental illness. Canada Life says these figures are particularly relevant to the findings of the High Court in Easton v B&Q, as employers have a duty of care to their employees but need to be made aware of their suffering before they act if it is not otherwise foreseeable.
Two-thirds of respondents who discussed a mental health problem with their employer felt the interaction was positive, with 39 per cent also being offered support.
While 52 per cent of those who haven’t experienced mental health problems acknowledge there is stigma attached around it, 16 per cent of non-sufferers agreed with the statement “everyone gets stressed and to treat it like a physical illness is an overreaction”, and 10 per cent believe people place too much emphasis on the seriousness of mental health.
Some non-sufferers are still uncertain about the need to take time off work to recover from mental health issues, with 9 per cent of those who have not experienced issues said they would feel sceptical if an employee took time off work for a mental health problem and 6 per cent would feel frustrated by the extra workload this would create for them.
Canada Life Group Insurance marketing director Paul Avis says: “It’s evident far more needs to be done to combat mental health problems in the workplace, and recognise it deserves equal footing to physical health. Stress and depression are serious issues and need to be treated as such. The implications of ignoring mental health, or seeing it as less important than physical health, are hugely damaging to employee wellbeing and business culture.
“Too often mental health is swept under the carpet and ignored – either because of the stigma surrounding it or a lack of employer procedures in place – despite being something that affects more than half the UK workforce at some point in their working lives. It’s therefore vital that employers have a clear and well-communicated method of helping employees with mental health problems. Services such as employee assistance programmes and vocational rehabilitation – an integral part of most group income protection products – can play an active role in aiding treatment and recovery.
“It’s in the interest of all employers to not only provide a safety net for those suffering with mental health problems, but crucially to be proactive. Tackling these issues early will give the best results for employees’ wellbeing, in turn boosting their productivity.”
