LineManagers’ResourceApracticalguidetomanagingandsupportingpeoplewithmentalhealthproblemsintheworkplaceDHINFORMATIONREADERBOXPolicyHR/WorkforceManagementPlanningClinicalEstatesCommissioningIM&TFinanceSocialCare/PartnershipWorkingDocumentpurposeBestPracticeGuidanceROCRRef:GatewayRef:8765TitleLineManagers’ResourceAuthorDH/CSIP/ShiftPublicationDate10October2007TargetAudiencePCTCEs,NHSTrustCEs,SHACEs,CareTrustCEs,FoundationTrustCEs,NHSTrustBoardChairs,SpecialHACEs,DirectorsofHR,GPsCirculationListDescriptionGuidanceforlinemanagersinmanagingmentaldistressandillnessintheworkplaceCrossRef‘ActiononStigma’,Shift,10/10/06SupersededDocsLineManagers’Resource,publishedbyMindOutforMentalHealth2003ActionRequiredN/ATimingN/AContactDetailsGaryHogmanProgrammeLeadShift11-13CavendishSquareW1G0AN08452235447ForRecipient’sUseThisresourcehasbeendevelopedbyShift,theDepartmentofHealth’sprogrammetoreducethestigmaanddiscriminationdirectedtowardspeoplewithmentalhealthproblems.ItispartofShift’s‘ActiononStigma’initiativeaimedatsupportingemployerstopromotegoodmentalhealthandreducediscrimination.TheresourceisanupdateoftheMindOutforMentalHealthLineManagers’Resource.ShifthasproducedthisresourceinpartnershipwiththeDepartmentofHealth,DepartmentforWorkandPensions,HealthandSafetyExecutiveandHealthWorkWellbeing.Furtherinformationaboutthesepartnerscanbelocatedatwww.shift.org.uk/employersTalkingaboutmentalhealthForeword:IvanLewisMPandLordMcKenzieTacklingmentalhealthproblemsintheworkplaceisapriorityforthisGovernment.Theextenttowhichemployeesandfellowmanagersexperiencestress,anxiety,depressionandothermentalhealthproblemshasgonewidelyunrecognised.Ithasrecentlybeenestimatedthatnearlythreeineverytenemployeeswillhaveamentalhealthproblemofsomesortinanyoneyear.Despitegoodpracticeamongstsomeemployers,thecosttotheeconomyofmentalillnessisenormous.Ithasbeenestimatedthatatotalof2.8millionworkingdayswerelosttostress,depressionandanxietyin2004/5.Thiscoststhecountrybillionsofpoundseachyear.What’smore,manypeoplearesometimesunnecessarilyforcedtogiveuptheirjobsbecausetheyhaveamentalhealthproblem-thisisaterriblewasteoftalentforBritishbusiness.Allthishappensdespitethefactthatthemedicaloutlookforpeoplewithmentalhealthproblemshasneverbeenbrighter.Contrarytopopularbelief,thevastmajorityofpeoplewhodevelopproblemscananddomakeagoodrecovery.Often,itisnottheirhealththatstandsintheirwayofgettingbackontheirfeet.Itisthefear,ignoranceanddiscrimination-oftenunconsciousorunintentional-theyfacewhentellingemployersabouttheirdiagnosis.Wehavebeendelightedbythepositivereactionwehavehadfromemployerstooureffortstohelpbusinessesaddresstheseissues.Almostalltheemployerswe’vetalkedtofromboththepublicandprivatesectorarefullysupportiveofoureffortstoimprovehowmentalhealthproblemsarehandledintheworkplace.Thebusinessbenefitsfromtacklingtheseissues,likeimprovedproductivity,reducedsicknessabsenceandbetterstaffmorale,areincreasinglywidelyappreciated.Thepriceoffailureisimmense–inhumanandbusinessterms.Employerstoldustheywantedtoknowwhatyoucandotopreventmentalhealthproblemsatworkandhowyoucanhelpstaffwhentheydevelopthem.Therehasclearlybeenashortageofinformationandadviceaboutwhattodo.2Thishandbookwasdevelopedtomeetthisneed.Itisintendedforlinemanagers–thoseatthecoalfaceofmanagingmentalhealthproblemsatwork.Ofcourse,thereisnosimpletemplateforwhattosayanddo–...
