Small and medium-sized enterprises are uncertain if their employees would discuss mental health concerns, according to a worldwide survey.
In a recent survey involving 79,000 businesses across Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK, it was found that around 1 in 10 workplaces globally plan to introduce mental health first aiders within the next 12 months. This is a positive step towards addressing mental health issues in the workplace, as the UK leads the way in mental health support.
However, the survey also revealed that 51% of respondents have no plans to introduce support measures such as mental health training, Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), or mental health first aiders to their workplace in the next twelve months. This could have an impact, considering that 1 in 7 UK SME owners and managers have experienced mental health issues in the last 12 months.
The data shows that 51% of those who experienced mental ill-health over the last 12 months did not seek support from the EAPs that their employers have in place. This raises concerns about mental health stigma still being present in the workplace.
Employers often worry about unconscious bias influencing promotion opportunities and changed perceptions of employee reliability or stability after disclosure. Employees fear workplace gossip, social isolation, and unwanted scrutiny, which reflects and reinforces employers’ lack of confidence that employees will openly disclose. Some workplaces have unsupportive cultures, such as lack of day-to-day support or cliquey teams that exclude those who disclose mental health issues, further discouraging disclosure and reducing employers’ confidence that employees feel safe to share.
Despite observing more open discussions about mental health at work and increased prioritization of work-life balance, many employers (78%) do not feel very confident employees would disclose a mental health condition. Even as employers promote work-life balance or mental health days, the cultural stigma and practical risks perceived by employees make disclosure a difficult and often risky step, limiting employer confidence in openness.
Canadian employers are most likely to offer mental health days in addition to personal leave entitlement. However, employees in Canada are least likely to speak up if they are struggling with their mental health. Irish and Canadian employers are the least confident that employees would discuss mental health issues with them.
Progress is being made in supporting staff, but more still needs to be done to help bring down the number of employers who are not confident that their employees would disclose mental health concerns. Bertrand Stern-Gillet, CEO at HA Wisdom Wellbeing, questions why many leaders are not confident their employees would disclose mental health issues despite noticing more open discussions about mental health at work and increased prioritization of work-life balance.
Interestingly, 1 in 5 UK workplaces have a mental health first aider in place, compared with 1 in 8 globally. Yet, 76% of respondents say they are not fully confident that their employees would disclose mental health concerns.
In essence, although mental health is more openly discussed at work, fear of discrimination, lack of supportive workplace culture, and concerns about stigma continue to inhibit true openness from employees, leaving many employers skeptical about disclosure.
- To address the remaining concerns surrounding mental health in the workplace, it might be beneficial for employers to implement comprehensive health-and-wellness programs that include science-backed strategies to improve mental health and workplace-wellness.
- As mental health first aiders become more commonplace, it's crucial for businesses to educate their workforce about these resources and address any lingering stigma, fostering a culture of understanding and support that encourages employees to prioritize their mental health and feel safe in disclosure.
