| Despite the fact that much more importance is now | | | | work on two levels; firstly it enables staff to be more |
| placed on the health and well being of staff in the | | | | aware of the stress they are feeling and provides |
| workplace it is only comparatively recently that many | | | | them with tips and techniques to control those feelings |
| businesses have begun to look at mental health issues | | | | and, secondly, it equips staff to recognise signs of |
| amongst their workforce. | | | | stress in their co-workers. |
| A survey by the Confederation of British Industry | | | | It is important that businesses take advantage of the |
| reported that over 90% of its correspondents believed | | | | courses that are available as a stressed workforce |
| that the mental health of employees should be a | | | | will, in the long term, negatively impact on productivity |
| concern of their company. Unfortunately, less than 10% | | | | and profitability. Initially it can result in staff taking more |
| of businesses actually have a mental health policy in | | | | time off and can lead to issues amongst the |
| place. | | | | workforce. Sending staff on a mental health training |
| Of course, many people spend a large amount of their | | | | course will provide solutions for those already feeling |
| time at work so it makes good business sense to | | | | the pressures of stress but will also be a pre-emptive |
| make sure that mental health issues are not ignored. | | | | safeguard to other employees who will learn how to |
| Because of the stressful nature of work the mental | | | | identify the symptoms of stress and be able to take |
| and psychological well being of staff should be equally | | | | measures to ensure that stress doesn't develop. |
| important as all other aspects of health and safety at | | | | Possibly the single biggest advantage in sending staff |
| work. In fact it should most probably be the factor of | | | | and management teams to a mental health training |
| most concern within a companies health and safety | | | | course is that they will gain a valuable insight into |
| regimen. | | | | understanding stress and how it is caused. This new |
| Thankfully, more and more companies are now taking | | | | awareness will enable employees at all levels, from the |
| on board the importance of mental health amongst | | | | shop floor to the boardroom, to be able to identify and |
| their staff and are encouraging their employees to | | | | control the problems that can be caused by stress in |
| attend workshops and training courses on how to | | | | the workplace. |
| control stress in the workplace. These training courses | | | | |