Mental health difficulty is a common experience.

One in six of the UK workforce currently experience mental health difficulties of one sort or another.

People with mental health difficulties are not a different type of person; they are just people who face some additional challenges in their day-to-day life.  They are no more or no less normal than anyone else is.

At anyone time, whether you know it or not, your workplace, company or organisation will already have in it a number of people who experience metal health difficulties.  They might be your employees, your management, your colleagues or your clients or customers.

Mental health difficulties are a fact of life.

Aside from questions arising from stigma, the main question that employers ask is ‘what do people with mental health difficulties need?’

The answer can differ from person to person, employee to employee and from company to company.

First and foremost, people with mental health difficulties need to be able to get on with their work without their working environment contributing to any difficulties that they may be experiencing.

In the same way that employers are obligated by law to minimise stress as much is practical and to look after the physical health of employees, employers should also feel responsible for looking out for the mental wellbeing of their employees.

All people with mental health difficulties need is to feel that they can be open about their needs and that they will be treated with respect and flexibility.

Regardless of an individual’s specific needs, what all people experiencing any form of mental distress need is to not be judged by their colleagues or employers and a supportive environment where they can take responsibility for their health and seek the help of their employer in doings so.

A positive organisational attitude to mental wellbeing, being open and no discriminatory when discussing mental health and having clear mental health policies goes a long way toward making sure that a company or organisation can reassure and encourage those it employs to keep mentally well.

Flexibility for mental wellbeing

The flexibility that is needed by members of staff who are experiencing mental health difficulties is similar to the flexibility needed by staff with families.

While someone with young children might not need to leave early every day to collect their children, they may need to on occasion.  Being flexible in this case ensures that member staff remains motivated and helps them to feel positive about the company.

Flexibility for mental wellbeing is the same.  A member of staff who experiences mental health difficulties might not need help or support all of the time, but will benefit from the knowledge that should they need it, it will be provided.

Reasonable adjustments may not need to be large changes to role, duties or other physical or operational aspects of the job.  Just the reassurance that the company will consider all reasonable needs, should that member of staff need a specific thing to help them to perform to their best ability, can go a long way.

Tags: mental distress, mental health difficulties, physical health, supported work projects