Are we doing enough to support mental wellbeing in the workplace?

A city worker has died after falling from a building in Canary Wharf in a case that highlights the importance of mental health support in the workplace.

Eyewitness accounts state that the man sent a text, put down his bag, then jumped four storeys to his death in the Canary Wharf Shopping Centre in East London in January.

Research from Accenture suggests 66% of UK workers have personally experienced mental health challenges, with 61% choosing not to tell anyone about them. The main reason for this is that individuals are fearful that disclosing a mental health condition will prevent them from getting promotions and work-related opportunities. In order to make progress, communication is key. Managers need to have regular, open and honest conversations about mental health with their teams.

However, according to a recent report, 40% of employees work for an organisation that does not offer any mental health support for employees at all.

It is important that business leaders break the culture of stigma and silence around mental health and start making it a management priority and ensuring that a range of support is available for those who need it.

ACAS recommend the following for managers: