World Mental Health Day to focus on the workplace

Today is World Mental Health Day, with a focus this year on prioritising mental health in the workplace.

A recent survey from St Patrick's Mental Health Services showed that 37% of respondents named work-related issues as a factor that influences their mental health and wellbeing.

Almost half of those surveyed said they were not aware that employers are obliged to provide reasonable accommodations for staff experiencing mental health difficulties.

42% said they would not be okay explaining to their boss that they needed time off for a mental health difficulty, while more than half said they believe that workplaces in Ireland are not open to employing people with mental health difficulties.

"Work plays a key role in our wellbeing, and is an important source of esteem, identity and fulfilment," said Paul Gilligan, CEO, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services.

"By running staff wellbeing initiatives, providing resources, signposting to specialist supports, and establishing employee assistance programmes, we can foster a culture of positive motivation and tackle stigma around mental health difficulties in the workplace," Mr Gilligan said.

The Annual Attitudes to Mental Health and Stigma Survey covers a nationally representative sample of approximately 1,000 adults.

On World Mental Health Day, Marks & Spencer and youth mental health charity, Jigsaw have announced a workplace wellbeing programme to support M&S’s 1,800 staff and the young people in their lives.

Through the programme, M&S staff will develop skills to support them in having conversations with young people around how they are feeling and help prevent them from reaching the point of crisis.

"It affords us the opportunity to highlight the vital connection between mental health and work; it offers impactful and trusted support and advice to M&S staff across all areas of the business, and it continues our work in raising awareness of the need for more conversations around how we support, talk about and respond to our collective mental health," said Jigsaw’s CEO, Dr Joseph Duffy.

Eddie Murphy, Country Director, M&S Ireland and Northern Ireland, said mental health in the workplace is a hugely important area for staff.

"Our partnership with Jigsaw allows us, not only shine a light on the importance of our collective mental health, but to practically put in place supports and resources available to all our colleagues," Mr Murphy said.