Employers 'need' mental health education

Posted on 14 October 2008

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Employers needed to be educated about mental health, in order to reduce absenteeism and keep staff in the workplace, it has been claimed.

Alison Kerry, spokesperson for leading charity Mind, says that "a quarter of staff are likely to have a mental health problem."

Commenting further, she adds: "There is plenty employers can do to identify if their staff are having problems, it is very much about helping people at an early stage.

"Keeping people in employment is the important thing - you could be offering flexible working hours, flexible working arrangements, counselling services."

Figures published by the Confederation of British Industry in May 2008 revealed that absence from work cost the UK economy £13.2 billion during 2007.

A major concern among UK employees may be that they do not receive ample support and backing from managerial staff and business owners.

In some cases, individuals prefer to take greater responsibility for their own income by entering self-employment.

Category: General News

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