Stress Management And Mental Health
While firms and companies have been increasing focussed on the health and safety of their staff over the past few years, the same concern for their employee’s mental health’s concerns at their place of work is a far more recent phenomenon.
The Confederation of British Industry conducted a survey on the issue in which 90 per cent of correspondents agreed that employees’ mental health in the workplace should be of concern to companies, but less than a tenth of them had formulated a mental health policy.
With most people spending a high proportion of their time at work the importance of mental health in the workplace should not be overlooked. Because of the stressful nature of work the mental and psychological well being of staff should be equally important as all other aspects of health and safety at work. In fact it should most probably be the factor of most concern within a companies health and safety regimen.
It is welcome news that firms are becoming increasingly aware of mental health concerns in the workplace, encouraging management and staff to cope better with work related stress through attendance at courses.
Mental health awareness courses are of great benefit to workers. It makes them aware of stress and gives them the skills to deal with it. It also enables them to recognise signs of work related stress when it appears in colleagues.
Stress management and mental health in the workplace courses are undoubtedly of valuable for businesses. Long term, stress leads to a slump in production which subsequently leads to a tumble in profits. Short term stress results in absent workers as well as other problems in the work place. By sending staff on stress management and mental health in the workplace courses, employers are allowing those of their workforce already suffering stress to recognise the effects, or to be able to initiate safeguards to prevent it occurring.
Perhaps the biggest benefit in allowing management and staff to attend a mental health training course is the knowledge that they will gain from being able to understand what stress is and where it comes from.