Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • 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
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • 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
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Musculoskeletal disordersHR practiceSickness absenceOccupational HealthSupplier News

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.

 


 

Avatar
Personnel Today

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

Record prostate cancer screenings post-pandemic

24 May 2022

Signs of severe eating disorders often missed, warns...

23 May 2022

GPs call for new OH service to relieve...

23 May 2022

Occupational health key to helping employers manage long...

23 May 2022

Adapt culture to hybrid work: do not force...

20 May 2022

Three in 10 say physical health has worsened...

20 May 2022

Obesity prevalence projections show 36% will be obese...

20 May 2022

Statutory sick pay reforms would save £4bn

19 May 2022

Nurses leaving due to pressure and workplace culture

18 May 2022

NHS pressures leaving thousands waiting for cancer diagnosis

17 May 2022

  • The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one PROMOTED | What is ethical leadership?...Read more
  • RPO Report: 2022, The Year to Outsource PROMOTED | Employers should be overwhelmed with choice...Read more
  • Report: Enabling organisational agility through talent & people success PROMOTED | Work has been challenged...Read more
  • Employee Trends 2022 report PROMOTED | Edenred research on employees analysed the key employees’ trends for 2022...Read more
  • How finance apprenticeships can boost business PROMOTED | As the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body...Read more
  • Paul Devoy: Showing appreciation to the Investors in People community PROMOTED | Ask most people what comes to mind when you mention Investors in People...Read more
  • White paper: How digitalisation can support evolving occupational health PROMOTED | Download this free white paper to discover how digitalisation can help occupational health meet emerging challenges...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 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • 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
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today