Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

HR practiceMusculoskeletal disordersSickness absenceWellbeingOccupational Health

Help for companies who are concerned for their staff’s mental wellbeing.

by Personnel Today 23 Nov 2009
by Personnel Today 23 Nov 2009

As a result of research undertaken by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on mental wellbeing in the workplace, guidance has been produced on promoting mental wellbeing through productive and healthy working conditions.

NICE states that mental wellbeing is a dynamic state in which the individual is able to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, build strong and positive relationships with others and contribute to their community. It is enhanced when an individual is able to fulfil their personal and social goals and achieve a sense of purpose in society

NICE advises that although it is not possible to quantify on the direct costs and savings to employers by implementing this guidance, evidence suggests that investment in healthy working practices and the health and wellbeing of employees improves productivity and is cost effective for business and wider society.

The cost of mental health to employers is significant: estimated at £25.9 billion in 2006 or £28.3 billion at 2009 pay levels.

The main causes of long term sickness absence (defined as a continuous period of absence from work lasting 4 weeks or more) among manual workers are acute medical conditions, followed by back pain, musculoskeletal conditions, stress and mental health problems (chartered institute of personnel and development CIPD 2008)

Among non manual workers, stress is the number 1 cause of long term sickness absence, followed by acute medical conditions, mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, musculoskeletal conditions and back pain (CIPD 2008).

Evidence also suggests that mental ill health may result in presenteeism rather than absenteeism where employees may be concerned by the stigma related to mental ill health and attend work when they are unfit to do so.

In the USA Goetzel et al (2004) reported that productivity losses through presenteeism associated with mental health are 5.1 times the equivalent losses resulting from absenteeism.

As companies are faced with these daunting facts, organisations like glo wellbeing are offering affordable solutions to help employees maintain a healthy mental attitude at work via a range of complementary health modalities honed to the workplace. glo’s clients can choose from: onsite massage, acupuncture, life coaching, reflexology, nutrition and stress management to create wellbeing programmes that support their staff physically and mentally.

Research released by the Mental Health Foundation has found that:

Massage has been shown to reduce levels of anxiety, stress and depression in some people.
Reflexology has been shown to aid relaxation, relieve stress and restore energy. It can help to reduce the side-effects of psychotropic medication and can moderate the highs and lows of mood swings.
Research into nutritional and dietary medicine has demonstrated that food sensitivities may cause psychiatric symptoms, whilst a lack of folic acid has been associated with depression and schizophrenia and the supplementation of certain amino acids has been shown to relieve depression.
Acupuncture can have a positive effect for some people diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Transcendental Meditation, hypnotherapy, yoga, exercise, relaxation, massage and aromatherapy have all been shown to have some effect in reducing stress, tension and anxiety and in alleviating mental distress.
With this plethora of treatments available for organisations to utilise onsite therapies in their office, there is hope that companies will take the appropriate measures to support their staff as well as their bottom line.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 


 

Personnel Today

Personnel Today articles are written by an expert team of award-winning journalists who have been covering HR and L&D for many years. Some of our content is attributed to "Personnel Today" for a number of reasons, including: when numerous authors are associated with writing or editing a piece; or when the author is unknown (particularly for older articles).

previous post
Comprehensive results of driving-related eyecare research revealed
next post
NHS could save £555m by implementing Boorman’s staff wellbeing plan

You may also like

Charlie Mayfield: HR needs more proactive approach to...

29 May 2025

Three ways technology can boost wellbeing outcomes

27 May 2025

Number of Neet women rises but figures fall...

23 May 2025

HSBC employees warned of office attendance link to...

22 May 2025

Workplace stress: Why it’s time to rebrand resilience

22 May 2025

Fewer workers would comply with a return-to-office mandate

21 May 2025

Uncertainty over law hampering legal use of medical...

20 May 2025

Employers ‘worryingly’ ignorant about stress risk assessments

20 May 2025

Awareness weeks fuel spike in demand for mental...

19 May 2025

Union rep teacher awarded £370k for unfair dismissal

15 May 2025

  • Preparing for a new era of workforce planning (webinar) WEBINAR | Employers now face...Read more
  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today