MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING FOCUS
THE LATEST STATISTICS
The Labour Force Survey ( LFS ) is a national survey run by the Office for National Statistics . Currently around 37,000 households are surveyed each quarter . The Health & Safety Executive ( HSE ) commissions annual questions in The Labour Force Survey to gain a view of self-reported workrelated illness and workplace injury based on individuals ’ perceptions . The analysis and interpretation of the data are the sole responsibility of HSE .
Announced by the Health & Safety Executive on 1 November , the latest statistics reveal that in 2016 / 17 , 1.3 million workers were suffering from work related ill-health and there were 609,000 workplace injuries . 31.2 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health and non-fatal workplace injuries , costing Britain £ 14.9 billion .
For the first time , stress , depression or anxiety accounted for the most days lost due to work-related ill health ( 49 %). The total number of cases of work related stress , depression or anxiety in 2016 / 17 was 526,000 ( 1,610 per 100,000 workers ). 236 thousand were new cases ( 720 per 100,000 workers ), up 4.3 % since 2015 / 16 ( 690 per 100,000 workers ).
In 2014 / 15 , a total of 488,000 cases of work related stress , depression or anxiety were reported , thus signifying an increase of 7 % since this period .
Sitting at the highest rate for at least the past decade , work related stress , depression or anxiety now overshadows days lost due to musculoskeletal disorders ( 507,000 cases in 2016 / 17 or 1,550 cases per 100,000 workers ).
Over the three-year period ( 2014 / 15-2016 / 17 ), the average prevalence rate for work-related stress , depression or anxiety across all industries was 1,230 cases per 100,000 workers .
Statistically , small workplaces had considerably lower rates of work-related stress , whilst medium and large workplaces had significantly higher rates :
• Small ( less than 50 employees ) - 970 cases
• Medium ( 50-249 employees ) - 1,430 cases
• Large ( 250 + employees ) - 1,770 cases
The average prevalence rate for males was 1,170 cases , with 1,880 cases for females per 100,000 workers .
UNDERSTANDING STIGMA
It can be difficult for people to open up about mental health and wellbeing issues - it can leave a person feeling vulnerable and open to being made more upset . Particularly at work , people don ’ t want to seem incapable or unprofessional , and the stigma attached to mental ill health it makes it even harder to spot in the workplace .
However , the stigma associated with mental health isn ’ t just limited to the workplace . According to Mark Winwood , Mental Health expert and Director of Psychological Services at AXA PPP Healthcare : “ You need to think about stigma in three ways : “ There ’ s self-stigma - negative associations that we carry round when we believe we will be looked at negatively if we disclose that we ’ re experiencing any difficulty .
“ Then there ’ s societal stigma - labels that society gives to individuals experiencing mental health concerns ; we get this from the way mental health is spoken about on TV and / or in the media .
“ Then there ’ s institutional stigma - which can stem from an organisation ’ s treatment of individuals with mental health concerns or is indicated in the way the state provides less funding to mental health services than physical health services ; these behaviours are stigmatising .”
Look at a bigger picture , it ’ s not difficult to understand why somebody dealing with mental health issues might be afraid to come forward and seek help from their boss .
WELLNESS BENEFITS Employers and managers who implement workplace initiatives to promote mental health and wellness , and who support employees who have mental disorders see gains , not only in the health of their employees , but also in their productivity at work .
People that feel good about themselves often work more efficiently , interact well with colleagues and make a valuable contribution to the workplace . Healthy and motivated workers are more likely to ‘ go that extra mile ’ - giving good customer service , taking fewer sick days and providing commitment and creativity .
IN CONCLUSION
The importance of an increasing emphasis on health and wellbeing is reflected by an estimated 1.3 million workers suffering from a work-related illness ( new or long standing ) in 2016 / 17 .
More specifically , work-related stress , depression or anxiety caused 40 % of work-related ill health and 49 % of working days lost in 2016 / 17 , and continues to represent a significant ill health condition in the workforce of Great Britain .
It is clear that mental ill health lies at the heart of some of our greatest social challenges . Employers , their staff , organisations and individuals must take steps to promote positive mental health and support those experiencing mental ill health and wellbeing concerns .
Through openness in conversation and compassion , we can make a difference in improving health and wellbeing , for ourselves and each other .
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HSE INTERNATIONAL