Businesses in the UK are pushing for a change in the law to be rolled out to give mental health the same status as physical health in the workplace.
The drive comes after a report by Mental Health First Aid England revealed the cost to the economy of days lost to mental health related issues like stress, anxiety and depression comes in at over £35bn each year.
Whilst the prime minister has said that she will introduce more legislation to tackle mental health challenges in the workplace, some feel that more needs to be done, with some of the country’s top employers such as Royal Mail, Lord Sugar and WH Smith issuing an open letter to make mental health first aid mandatory for UK businesses.
The stigma surrounding mental health at work also came into the spotlight following a poll by tech health firm Mynurva which revealed that of those suffering with mental health related illnesses, almost half (44%) hid the fact at work, fearing the negative impact to professional relationships and career progression.
Rob Shaw, Managing Director at Glu Recruit said: “It is clear that UK workplaces need to consider the wellbeing and mental health of their staff, as well as their physical health.
“The stigma surrounding mental health in the workforce is gradually dissipating, but many employees still feel reluctant to discuss their struggles with their bosses and colleagues.
“Mental health related illnesses affect one in four people in the UK each year, so it is something that affects the population as much as, if not more than physical health issues.
“This drive by some of the UK largest employers is a great start to raise awareness and make headway in this area, but smaller businesses can still do their bit and launch their own mental health initiatives too.
“For many employees, wellbeing is moving up the list of what they want form their job, and we’re especially seeing generation Z coming into the workforce with an expectation of support, and employers should do what they can to honour that.”