Mental Health affects one in five people in Northern Ireland – that means that 20% of employees in the average organisation will experience mental ill-health at some stage. Learn how to reduce stigma in the workplace by creating a culture of openness where employees feel supported and able to talk about their mental health if they choose to do so.
Mental illness often goes unmentioned because people are afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Cited as one of the leading causes of absence from work, mental illness is not something that employers can ignore.
Did you know? . . .
- Mental Health affects one in five people in Northern Ireland – that means that 20% of employees in the average organisation will have experienced mental ill health at some stage.
- When matched to 17 other countries, NI had the 2nd highest rates of mental ill-health issues
- Prevalence of mental illness in Northern Ireland is 25% higher than in England
So what can your business do about it?
- Reduce stigma by creating a culture of openness within the workplace where employees experiencing mental illness feel supported and able to talk if they choose to do so.
- Empower line managers and staff with greater knowledge and understanding of mental illness; how to spot the signs, offer support before and during a period of absence, and how to welcome employees back to the workplace.
What is Business in the Community doing?
We are committed to supporting employers to tackle mental illness in the workplace and have produced a range of Toolkits for employers. Please use these resources or email Shelly Ovadia for more information.