Stuart Anderson MP has spoken out about the need for mental health to be taken more seriously by employers, having previously suffered from poor mental health himself. The call has been made as part of World Mental Health Day, which is taking place on 10th October 2024. This year’s theme, ‘workplace mental health’, raises the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace for the benefit of people, organisation, and their wider communities.
Every year, 1 in 4 people experience poor mental health - with most people knowing a family member, colleague, or friend who has struggled with their mental health. Overall, poor mental health currently costs the UK approximately £118 billion a year. Yet, for every £1 spent on supporting mental health, employers get nearly £4.70 back in improved productivity. The value added to the economy by people who are at work and have or have had mental health problems is as high as £225 billion per year, which represents 12.1% of the UK’s total GDP.
Stuart has previously spoken openly about his own journey with poor mental health following life-changing injuries sustained as part of his time in the Armed Forces. Stuart has now said that he wants his constituents to know about support available for them. He has refreshed his ‘Mental Health Hub’, which he published in May to make it easier to identify the range of assistance on offer. It signposts both government and external services which can help people experiencing mental health difficulties.
The refreshed resource includes a new section on support in the workplace, including the right to request reasonable adjustments and information about 'Access to Work', a government-funded scheme that can help to fund equipment, software, and other support if cost is a barrier to making reasonable adjustments.
World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October. It is organised by the Mental Health Foundation, which has published a guide on supporting mental health at work. The Foundation has said there are many things that contribute to a mentally healthy workplace, from providing staff training on mental health to tackling discrimination and bullying. Importantly, a mentally healthy workplace supports open conversations about mental health.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Each year, around 1 in 4 of us experience poor mental health. Most of us know a family member, colleague, or friend who has struggled with their mental health. As a result of my own experience, I know just how important it is to look after our wellbeing and to look out for each other too. On World Mental Health Day, I am calling for a spotlight to be shone on how vital mental health is to our overall wellbeing and to talk about all aspects of our mental health. I want my constituents to know that I am here to help and support them. My refreshed 'Mental Health Support Hub' makes it easier to identify and access the range of support available."
Stuart's refreshed Mental Health Hub can be found at www.stuartanderson.org.uk/mental-health-support. In September, Stuart also called on the government to continue the Suicide Prevention Grant Fund, which is supporting 79 organisations who work with people experiencing suicidal thoughts or who are approaching a mental health crisis. The last Government provided record funding for mental health services, with support growing by £4.7 billion between 2018/19 and 2023/24.
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