People do find it difficult to talk about mental health, as there is still a certain amount of stigma attached to it (Off Message, Personnel Today, 27 May). This is a problem in itself, as poor mental health is something that most people will experience at some time in their lives – probably caused through normal life events.
Everyone knows that working long hours is not always a matter of choice. It can be essential for keeping a roof over your head, especially among people who are self-employed. Therefore, it is a good idea for people to be able to recognise when someone is going through a difficult time. A sympathetic ear in the HR department with some practical suggestions for temporarily relieving the pressure might save a company lost working hours.
It can also be very stressful not being able to get a job. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realise that having a diagnosed mental health problem can make this much more difficult. That is why it is important to provide people in this situation with as much help as possible – nothing to do with being ‘caring’ and ‘sharing’, but with getting people back to work and boosting the economy.
Articles that promote discussion on the employment of people who have had poor mental health in a positive way are useful. It would be good to see as many of them as possible in the future.
Rosie Shrimpton, posted on Personneltoday.com