It will affect one in four of us, but mental illness remains a taboo subject, particularly in the workplace - something we can change, says the Business Disability Forum's Bela Gor. One in four people will experience some kind of mental health issue   More...
03 May 2013 00:01

More than half the UK population has had a mental health problem at some point in their lives, a recent study by health insurer Aviva has concluded. Its Health of the nation report found that 85% of respondents fear that their mental health will d  More...
08 February 2013 00:01

People who have a mental health condition often have access to considerable support. The Mindful Employer initiative seeks to address the question: "Who supports their employer?" Richard Frost explains. The Mindful Employer scheme was launched in Oc  More...
01 February 2013 09:00

In a previous article, we examined how psychological first aid could help OH practitioners ensure the wellbeing of employees in crisis. In this article, Dr John Durkin looks at supporting employees who have experienced a traumatic exposure. Occupati  More...
01 February 2013 00:01

Therapy is only one of many interventions that can help people with mental health problems return to the workplace. But Dr Rob Hampton highlights evidence from the Fit for Work pilot programmes on how non-clinical approaches can be effective. Stress  More...
01 January 2013 09:00

Over recent decades, as the UK economy has shifted from manufacturing to service industries so the traditional workplace illnesses have shifted from physical injuries to stress-related injuries. Society and employers have become more aware of, and sympa  More...
04 December 2012 15:48

The Department of Health (DH) has issued guidance for employers on the adjustments they could consider making to support an employee with a mental health condition. The guidance includes a range of practical advice and tips for employers, as well a  More...
29 November 2012 00:01

Mental illness and ill health took centre stage in a series of public health pronouncements from political figures during the autumn. Most notably, in October Labour leader Ed Miliband unveiled plans to tackle mental illness should the party be elec  More...
26 November 2012 00:00

One European employee in 10 has missed work because of depression, equating to more than 21,000 working days being lost, with UK workers among the most depressed of any European country, a poll has suggested. The Impact of depression in the workpla  More...
25 October 2012 12:15

Should employers support employee health beyond simply managing absence? Welfare reform and the sickness absence review have placed employers right in the centre of managing absence. What impact can health benefits have on this, asks Emma Page? Acco  More...
08 October 2012 09:38

The Government has launched a suicide prevention strategy for England and is to invest £1.5 million into prevention research. The move, introduced in September 2012, is the first such initiative in 10 years and was, in part, in recogni  More...
27 September 2012 16:22

People who have had one or two episodes of depression could ­benefit from mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), ­according to research published in August. The study in the British Journal of Psychiatry suggested that the therapy, whi  More...
26 September 2012 08:30

Mental health in the workplace is something that many employers struggle with and continues to be a taboo subject. The recent case of Crisp v Iceland Foods Ltd ET/1604478/11  is a good example of how employers can get it very wrong and the impli  More...
06 September 2012 09:00

Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, has suggested that employers should have a dedicated employee trained to help workers suffering from mental health problems, much as organisations will have someone trained in first aid. The recommendation was part  More...
03 September 2012 09:42

With the abundance of guidance and research available, OH practitioners should now be well placed to help ease the stigma of mental ill health, says Jane Downey. According to recent research, six employees out of 10 with diabetes keep thei  More...
03 September 2012 09:00

Employees who suffer from anxiety-driven panic attacks will require extra support in the workplace. The following case study describes the type of help available and the involvement of occupational health in the treatment process. When cable fitter   More...
01 August 2012 09:00

There has been a steep increase in the past two years in the number of staff turning to employee assistance programmes (EAPs) for help with mental health issues, according to data released to Occupational Health magazine. EAP provider Validium has s  More...
02 July 2012 13:38

A specialised form of first-aid training can improve support for staff suffering from mental ill health, argue Dr Jo Borrill, Poppy Jarman and Jessica Agudelo. Mental health problems are common across all sectors of society. It is estimated that in   More...
02 July 2012 09:00

A new set of standards aims to offer businesses a more simplified, yet significantly improved, approach to managing stress in the workplace. Sadie Hopson reports. The taboo of mental health results in a lack of understanding of what stress is a  More...
01 April 2012 09:01

People with long-term health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease are two to three times more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population, according to research by The King's Fund and the Centre for Mental Health.   More...
28 February 2012 11:09