{"id":167295,"date":"2021-12-21T09:44:33","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T09:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/?p=167295"},"modified":"2021-12-21T09:47:23","modified_gmt":"2021-12-21T09:47:23","slug":"promote-mental-wellbeing-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/promote-mental-wellbeing-workplace","title":{"rendered":"How To Promote Mental Wellbeing In The Workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Work makes up a significant proportion of many people\u2019s lives. It\u2019s where we spend a lot of our time, how we earn our income and a place that we might make friends. Feeling a sense of fulfilment at work can contribute to good mental health and positive wellbeing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, if your work begins to get on top of you, or the stress becomes too much, it\u2019s easy for your mental wellbeing to take a nose dive. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important for businesses to understand how to promote mental wellbeing in the workplace and take practical steps to support their employees when it comes to maintaining good mental health.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll explain more about mental health at work, including the legal obligations of the employer. We\u2019ll also discuss some practical steps that employers can take to promote good mental wellbeing in their employees, both at work and in their personal lives.<\/p>\n

What is mental wellbeing?<\/h2>\n

Mental wellbeing is\u00a0 about looking after our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. This means feeling positive about life, accepting ourselves for who we are, handling stressful situations in a healthy way, having satisfying personal relationships and finding purpose in life.<\/p>\n

When a person’s mental wellbeing deteriorates, it can lead to mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. External factors such as pressure at work or worries at home can contribute to the beginning of mental health conditions, which is why it’s so important that businesses promote mental wellbeing in the workplace.<\/p>\n

However, it’s important to note that mental wellbeing is not just the absence of mental health problems; it’s about feeling good mentally and emotionally most of the time.<\/p>\n

What does the law say about mental health at work?<\/h2>\n

The law is clear that employers have a duty of care to their employees and must take steps to protect their mental wellbeing. This means ensuring that the workplace is a healthy and safe environment, providing support for staff who are struggling, and raising awareness of mental health issues.<\/p>\n

Under the Equality Act 2010<\/a>, people with disabilities are protected against discriminated and harassment at work. The majority of people with ongoing mental health conditions will fall into this category, and therefore gain this protection. Employers should make sure that they have policies in place that are designed to protect staff from discrimination or harassment based on their mental health.<\/p>\n

Benefits of promoting mental wellbeing in the workplace<\/h2>\n

Research has shown that promoting mental wellbeing in the workplace comes with some significant benefits for the business. These benefits include:<\/p>\n