Understanding the Figures

1 in 4 people experience mental health difficulties each year in the UK. Struggling with mental wellbeing is a normal part of life but it can make it difficult to function at your best. Poor mental wellbeing can impact on ability to concentrate, confidence and motivation within work.

Work in itself can also have an impact on mental wellbeing. Last year 828,000 workers in the UK reported experiencing work related stress, anxiety and depression. 55% of sick days were due to these factors with a total of 17.9 million working days being lost each year due to work stress factors alone.

The estimated total working days a year lost each year in the UK due to mental health and wellbeing factors is 70 million days. It is thought that poor mental wellbeing costs UK businesses an estimated £2.4 billion each year.

These statistics highlight why having an effective approach to support the wellbeing of a team is a key part of business strategy. Investing in the wellbeing of your employee means investing in your business.

Sources: Health & Safety England, Mental Health Foundation

Psychological interventions are key to effectively supporting the well-being of your workforce

Psychological support

An individuals’ mental health can be impacted hugely by their work, it can either support an individual to thrive or have a detrimental impact on them both in and outside work.  This can often create a vicious cycle of feeling stressed, overwhelmed and stuck. Prolonged stress is linked to psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Businesses can play a key role in monitoring the mental well-being of their employees by ensuring that both proactive and reactive strategies of support are available (NICE, 2009). Research has shown that mental health difficulties are widespread in the workplace and therefore there is a need for evidence-based psychological support. This not only supports the well-being of the individual but also has been found to improve employee productivity. Providing effective well-being support to your workforce is key (Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project, 2008 & Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (2007).

As Clinical Psychologists we are trained in NICE recommended therapies, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). CBT is an evidence based therapeutic approach that has been found to be effective in supporting people with common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression (NICE, 2011).  Workforces are diverse and it is important to be able to offer a tailored and robust approach to supporting mental health and well-being.

By working with The Core Collective you will be working with experts in the field of mental health who will use evidence based approaches to meet the needs of your workforce and ensure that you have an authentic strategy to improve the well-being of those within your organisation. Thus, benefitting the organisation but also having a meaningful impact on the health and well-being on your most important asset.

Sources: Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project (2008); NICE Guidelines (2009, 2011); Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health. 2007