When we have good emotional wellbeing we are more resilient, able to concentrate on our work and be more productive. Good mental and emotional wellbeing also reduces the likelihood of being absent from work. Ill health affects everyone and typically results in more time off work on average. Nearly 10% of UK adults took time off for mental health reasons over the past year, with almost half (45%) of these absences lasting a month or longer (Source AXA Mind Health Index, March 2024). Supporting good mental health and emotional wellbeing in the workplace will help individuals to make healthier choices in and outside of work.

Resources available online

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provide an overview of mental health as well as advice for both employees and managers.

Visit the Health and Safety Executive website.

A useful tool to calculate the annual cost of employee ill health, absence from work and staff turnover to your organisation. Use this tool to help create a business case for workplace health and wellbeing initiatives and estimate the return on investment of setting up a health and wellbeing programme.

Visit the GOV.UK website to view the guidance on the workplace wellbeing tool.

As an employer or HR professional looking to improve wellbeing in your workplace, the Mind website has a range of helpful resources to help you support your staff.

Visit the mind website to explore the workplace mental health resources.

If workers feel they can talk openly about mental health, problems are less likely to build up. This could lead to less time off for poor mental health improved morale at work.
As an employer, you should create an environment where workers feel able to talk openly about mental health.

Visit the Acas website for more information on how to create a supportive work environment.