Managers, how comfortable are you with discussing your employees’ mental health?

Good mental health is something that we all need, just like we all need good physical health. Nearly half of adults in the UK believe they have suffered with a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their lives so it is important that people managers are comfortable enough to engage in dialogue around the subject.Uncharacteristic or erratic behaviour, dips in productivity and frequent sickness are some of the warning signs that you can look out for when identifying potential mental health conditions among your people. Often, those who are suffering with their mental health are reluctant to disclose the true reason for their absence, so it is down to managers to take note of the signs and act appropriately.

Creating a culture of support for employees with mental health conditions

Research by mental health charity Mind revealed that less than half of people who had been diagnosed with a mental health condition had told their manager. Employers must create a culture that supports people to be open when it comes to talking about their mental health. This should be led from the top of the organisation as employees need to feel that senior managers are taking the matter of mental health seriously, and that disclosure will lead to support rather than discrimination. Clear mental health strategies and policies can help to create a working environment that is transparent about mental health and where employees know that there is support in place should they need it.To ensure that employees feel comfortable seeking support, managers must be approachable and confident when speaking about the topic. Normalising conversations about mental health and holding regular catch-ups with employees will help to build trust and provide an opportunity for issues to be raised at an early stage.

Engage in conversation

Striking up conversation about someone’s mental health can be a daunting prospect. However, basic managerial skills are all that is required to undertake this task, as long as managers are known for their approachability, empathy, and common sense. The first step is to simply ask the employee how they are doing. As a manager, you will know your own team better than anyone else in the organisation, which is a vital attribute for creating a worthwhile discussion with them. Offering open communication will help you to understand the employee’s situation and put the necessary support plan in place for their wellbeing in the workplace.When engaging in conversation about an employee’s mental health, the first thing to remember is that an appropriate location is key. The workplace can be a stressful setting for this sort of discussion so it is advisable to take it off site (or at the very least to a secluded meeting room), where the employee is more likely to feel at ease.

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Now for the talking. Open and non-judgmental questions are key, giving the employee an opportunity to put their feelings into words without making assumptions about their condition or symptoms. It is important that managers actively listen and take a flexible approach to the employee’s requirements for support. Equally important is that the manager is comfortable to be honest about any absence or performance problems, so that these can be addressed early on. Allowing these issues to continue or spiral out of control is likely to compound them and result in a more lengthy and difficult process to rectify.If and when the employee is ready, the manager should work with them to develop a support and action plan to enable the employee to maintain a good standard of performance while ensuring their wellbeing. This plan should include provisions for the employee to seek external help from their GP or through an Employee Assistance Programme if your organisation has one in place. A date should also be agreed to review the action plan and whether or not the support is sufficient.

What mental health support does your company provide?

It pays to be armed with information on the support available from the company for their employees. If your organisation provides an Employee Assistance Programme, then this can be discussed as part of the available support. Not being aware of any internal policies gives the impression that you don’t consider mental health issues to be of high importance, which can leave employees feeling less than confident to approach you about this topic.Remember, if the employee is not ready to talk about their mental health when you approach them, you should not force the issue. Instead, giving the employee reassurance that you are accessible to them if and when they wish to have a discussion will send a powerful message that you are genuinely interested in their wellbeing.Of course, there are actions that employers should take in order to prevent work from becoming a trigger for poor mental health, and holding conversations around the topic is not the overall solution but it is a stage that employers cannot afford to overlook.Ultimately, mental health problems need to be taken seriously by your business, and while you can’t fix the problems your employees face, you can offer support and guidance - that’s the difference between success and failure in supporting your people.To find free mental health resources that are right for your organisation, visit Mind's Mental Health at Work website.

About Dawn Brown, HR expert at MHR

Dawn has over 20 year’s working in Human Resources. She is responsible for a team providing outsourced HR advisory services to our wide client base. Having worked in both the private and public sectors and with organisations ranging from 700 to 14,000 employees, Dawn has a wide range of experience and is well placed to provide specialist and technical expertise based on current legislation, good practice and business needs on all HR issues including recruitment, employment law and employee relations.

For more information, visit our dedicated Health and Wellness section.

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