How employers can support men’s mental health this Movember and beyond

This year marks 20 years since the launch of Movember, where people are encouraged to grow a ‘mo during the month of November, to fundraise and raise awareness of men’s health issues. This includes mental wellbeing – a key topic in the workplace right now.

If you haven’t already, Russell McIver, senior corporate partnerships manager at Movember, suggests getting on board with the action.

“Head over to Movember.com and sign up as a company. Organising an internal health messaging campaign is a proven way to increase engagement and conversations,” says McIver. “It’s also a great way to show your employees that you’re taking their wellbeing and mental health seriously.”

Here are some other suggestions all employers could consider, when it comes to supporting men’s health at work…

Look out for each other and check in

“Check in on each other. And ask the second question, as men are very good at saying they’re ‘fine’ to the first,” says McIver.

“Have you noticed any changes in their behaviour? Can you ask the second or third question: ‘Are you really fine? I noticed you’ve been very quiet in meetings recently, or you haven’t been eating your lunch with other people like you do normally’. Check out our ‘spot the signs’ video, as often the signs that someone is struggling can be quite subtle,” McIver adds.

Knowing how to respond when challenges do arise is also key.

“Early recognition and support for staff facing mental health challenges can be incredibly powerful. Given the disproportionately high burden of mental health issues among men, implementing policies and strategies to address this concern is important,” says Dr Dane Vishnubala, a sports medicine physician and GP partnering with Active IQ.

“Reducing workplace stress is multifactorial. Establishing a supportive environment, fostering staff wellbeing, promoting an open and honest culture, and encouraging a sense of unity and purpose within the team are key components in achieving this goal.”

Lead by example

When it comes to mental wellbeing at work, Mark Simmonds, co-founder of creative training agency Genius You and author of Beat Stress As Work, says: “The single most powerful way of getting men to step out of their ‘mental health closets’ is to encourage senior leaders (particularly male ones) to lead by example.”

Because despite “all the progress made in this area over the last few years, there still remains a significant amount of stigma in the workplace”, Simmonds adds – and people often fear that talking about stress will be seen as a “sign of weakness” and potentially be “an invisible barrier to any career progression”.

“Just imagine the positive impact if every senior manager in a company was asked to open up about their own mental health struggles in front of their teams. And in the same breath, they then proceeded to discuss the business agenda of the day,” Simmonds adds. “Effectively, you are saying, ‘Yes, I can talk about my mental health, but this doesn’t prevent me from doing a great job’.”

Organise in-person events

Hybrid and remote working offers many benefits – but missing out on in-person interaction can also lead to isolation for some, and may make it difficult to get a measure of how everyone’s doing.

“Could you do more events in person to encourage people to come together? Whether it’s a walking meeting, meeting once a week at lunchtime to go for a walk or organising a social event after your last meeting of the day,” suggests McIver. “Men are much more likely to open up when they’re doing something else, and often when they’re having side-by-side conversations.”

Focus on long-term culture shift?

It’s easy to fall into the trap of tick-box exercises with wellbeing initiatives – but this will not inspire meaningful results. “It’s essential for employers to adopt proactive and consistent approaches to support the wellbeing of their male employees. One-off efforts simply won’t suffice, and importantly won’t make the difference,” says Karl Bennett, wellbeing director of employee benefits provider Vivup and Chair of the Employee Assistance Programme Association (EAPA). “Cultivating a strategy with clear goals means employers are able to identify and appropriately support colleagues’ wellbeing needs.”

Bennett says it’s not just about “large-scale initiatives” either. “Often, simple, practical solutions – such as allocating a dedicated period during the working day, marked in everyone’s diaries – can be hugely impactful. This time can be sacrosanct, free from internal calls and emails, allowing employees to step away from their professional roles and focus on their personal needs.

“Whether it’s enjoying an uninterrupted cup of coffee, walking the dog, or practising some calming yoga, this time promotes balance and rejuvenation. By consistently implementing good practices, we begin fostering a culture of wellbeing.” Encourage keeping active

On-site gyms and classes, subsidised memberships, and a culture that supports people taking breaks can all help encourage men to stay active – supporting both physical and mental health, as well as boosting motivation, focus and a sense of fulfilment.

“When addressing physical activity, it’s not merely about the activity itself, but also about breaking up prolonged periods of sitting,” says Dr Vishnubala. “Promoting this environment, whether through office design, standing desks, or thoughtful scheduling, can significantly contribute to this goal.”

In ESG news this week:

• Coca-Cola, Danone and Nestle have been accused of greenwashing over claims about their plastic bottles being “100% recycled”.
• Lloyd’s of London is to invest ￡52 million into racial equality causes after a report found it played a “significant role” in the transatlantic slave trade.
• Some people who responded to a question in the latest census about their gender identity may not have understood what was being asked due to language barriers, the national statistics body has said.
• It is virtually certain that 2023 will be the hottest year on record after four months of global temperature records being “obliterated”, climate scientists have said.
• The biggest social media platforms will be required to protect children online by keeping them off suggested friend lists to stop them being contacted by groomers, Ofcom has said.

Find out more about our ESG offering here:?https://go.pa.media/l/314511/2022-11-07/l91tq

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