Rightsteps to Wellbeing

A recent review by the Centre for Mental Health estimates that absence, presenteeism and staff turnover attributable to mental health costs UK employers £34.9 billion a year – that’s equivalent to £1,300 per UK employee.

The most common mental health issues - stress, anxiety and depression - account for more than 15 million lost working days per annum and significantly impact on employee effectiveness and productivity. At any one time, 1 in 5 working people will have a mental health difficulty. However there is still a stigma associated with it, with many employees stating they wouldn’t tell their manager if they were struggling with their mental health.

Indeed 35% of those questioned thought they’d be less likely to be promoted if they were suffering with depression. This fear of openness means issues can go unsupported and escalate.

But the issues can be more complex and wide-reaching; for instance employees who experience mental health issues may feel less motivated to be physically active, which can further exacerbate any health issues they are experiencing.