Workplaces Unite to Tackle Stress During Awareness Month

Stress Awareness Month kicks off this April, with the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Working Minds campaign partnering with twenty-two organisations across Great Britain to help workplaces tackle work-related stress and bolster mental health.

In an effort to curb work-related stress and promote good mental health, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and its twenty-two partner organisations across Great Britain are urging workplaces to take action during Stress Awareness Month this April. 

Through its Working Minds campaign, launched in November 2021, HSE has compiled a comprehensive list of resources to help employers and workers manage stress.

The campaign has grown from nine to twenty-two partners, with the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and See Me – Scotland’s national programme to end mental health stigma, joining this month. 

As part of the campaign, HSE reminds businesses of their legal obligation to assess and address work-related stress risks.

Liz Goodwill, Head of the Work-Related Stress and Mental Health Policy Team at HSE, emphasised the importance of establishing a workplace culture that openly discusses stress and mental health. She identified six key areas that can lead to work-related stress if not properly managed: demands, control, support, relationships, role, and change.

Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Club, highlighted the construction industry’s struggle with anxiety and depression, which account for 20% of all recorded workplace absences. Andrew Berrie, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, and Francoise Woolley, Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing at Acas, both echoed the importance of addressing mental health in the workplace and creating supportive environments.

The law mandates that all employers, regardless of size, assess and act upon work-related stress risks to protect their workers. Failure to do so can lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, loss of valued team members, and potential litigation costs.

The complete list of resources from the Working Minds campaign can be accessed [here].