Increasing number of staff turn to managers for mental health support

Almost four in ten (39%) managers have had a member of staff approach them with a mental health concern, according to data from the Institute of Directors.

The data reveals the number of managers who have experienced employees coming to them about their mental wellbeing is rising, with only 27% reporting to have experienced it last year - a rise of 44%.

Directors reported that high workloads (37%) and poor line management (also 37%) are harming their employees’ mental wellbeing, with 33% highlighting poor relationships with colleagues as a potential negative impact.

"While mental health is no longer the taboo subject it was, much work remains to be done,” said Stephen Martin, Director General of the Institute of Directors. “The bottom line is this: the workplace shouldn’t be somewhere that people feel they have to hide the problems they are facing. In fact, it should be one of the places where help is most easily found.”