Stress Awareness Month - Why Northern Irish Employers Need to Invest in the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Their Staff

As we mark Stress Awareness Month this April, it's important to recognise that stress and mental health challenges are not just individual problems. They are also organisational issues that affect the bottom line of businesses, particularly in Northern Ireland, where the legacy of conflict has left deep scars on many people's mental health.

Employers have a responsibility to invest in the mental health and wellbeing of their staff, not just because it's the right thing to do but also because it makes good business sense.

Here are just a few reasons why:

• Investing in staff wellbeing can reduce absenteeism. In Northern Ireland, stress, depression, or anxiety accounted for 51% of all work-related ill health cases and 55% of all working days lost due to ill health in 2019/20. (Health and Safety Executive for NI).
• Prioritising staff wellbeing can increase productivity. For every ￡1 spent on mental health interventions in the workplace, there was an average return of ￡5 in improved productivity and reduced absenteeism, according to a study by Deloitte.
• 28% of UK employees either left their job in 2021 or planned to leave in 2022, with 61% of respondents saying this was due to poor mental health (Deloitte 2022).

So, what can employers in Northern Ireland do to invest in the mental health and wellbeing of their staff?

Here are a few suggestions:

• Develop a mental health and wellbeing strategy that includes clear policies and procedures for supporting staff who are experiencing mental health challenges.
• Provide training for managers and supervisors on how to recognize and respond to mental health challenges in the workplace.
• Offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that provide confidential counselling and support services to staff.
• Regularly check in with staff to ensure they feel supported and valued.
• Promoting a healthy work-life balance, such as offering flexible working arrangements or encouraging regular breaks, can also improve staff wellbeing.
• Even small changes, such as promoting a culture of openness and communication or providing regular opportunities for staff to socialise, can have a positive impact on staff wellbeing and work to reduce stigma and discrimination.

By creating a positive and supportive workplace culture, employers can improve productivity, staff retention rates, and overall organizational performance.

Let's use Stress Awareness Month as an opportunity to prioritize mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, and to create a healthier and happier workforce for all.

AWARE NI offers a suite of workplace wellbeing training programmes to support employers in promoting staff wellbeing.

Download our workplace wellbeing training information pack here.?