Being in work, paid or voluntary can be positive and protective for our mental health and well being. Aside from the importance of any wage at the end of the week or month, work provides us with an important source of support, engages us in health protecting social networks and gives us a sense of purpose and personal identity. Work can also aid our recovery when we experience mental distress or mental ill health.
Productivity, performance, attendance, staff retention and morale are all affected when employees have languishing or poor mental health. It is important we recognise the factors that can affect our mental health at work and be proactive about addressing them.
A mentally healthy working environment with appropriate support at work has a significant impact on reducing stress-related sickness absence and improving long term outcomes for employees experiencing mental distress or mental health problems. Good management practices that respect and value employees, meaningful consultation, and employee involvement and participation in decision-making will promote positive mental health and wellbeing and help lessen the risk that employees will experience mental distress or mental ill health.
Healthy Working Lives offers a range of free services available throughout Scotland which offers businesses and employees access to:
· the Healthy Working Lives Award Programme; advice and information on Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) issues - contact our free and confidential national adviceline on 08000 19 22 11;
· the Mental Health Commendation Award Programme – a programme that allows you to demonstrate exemplar employer status in relation to protecting and promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in the workplace;
· a national website which includes an e-mail enquiry service www.healthyworkinglives.com;
· free and confidential safety and health workplace visits for small and medium-sized businesses with follow up support - call the adviceline to arrange this;
· a comprehensive free training programme which includes, for example, alcohol & drug training for managers and mentally healthy workplaces training;
· a team of workplace health, occupational health and health & safety specialists ready to work with you to guide, support and advise in creating a healthier workplace
Organisations and businesses wishing to take part in the Healthy Working Lives Award should call free on 08000 192211 for an information pack. Alternatively, email your expression of interest to healthyworkinglives@health.scot.nhs.uk
See the national website for more information about the HWL Award Programme.
The programme covers a wider range of topics allowing organisations and businesses to select those that are most relevant to their workforce. Topics include:
· Health promotion.
· Occupational health and safety.
· Health and the environment.
· Mental health and well-being.
· Community involvement.
· Employability.
For further information on any aspect of Health Working Lives in Lanarkshire please call the adviceline on 0800 019 22 11 or visit www.healthyworkinglives.com For local support on addressing mental health in the workplace contact:
Healthy Working Lives Centrum Park Hagmill Road Coatbridge ML5 4TD Tel: 08452 300323 Email: enquirieshwl@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
For resources on risk-assessing stress within your organisation: www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards and www.workpositive.co.uk