02nd October 2024
Mental Health Support: The Need for Better Data Tracking in the Workplace
A new study by Barnett Waddingham reveals a disconnect between business leaders’ perceptions and the reality of mental health support in the workplace. Despite rising absenteeism linked to mental health, less than half of businesses track relevant data, hindering efforts to provide effective support. Addressing this issue through robust data collection and mental health programs is essential for improving employee wellbeing and productivity.
This article was written by Liam Soutar and published in the HR Grapevine.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of business leaders believe their organisations are well-prepared to manage mental health concerns in their workforce, according to new research from leading independent consultancy Barnett Waddingham.
However, under half of these businesses are collecting comprehensive data on mental health conditions impacting their employees, highlighting significant gaps in understanding the full scope of the issue.
The study, commissioned by Barnett Waddingham, surveyed 301 HR Directors and C-Suite business leaders in UK companies. It revealed that nearly two-thirds (64%) of businesses have seen a rise in absenteeism due to mental health issues, affecting employees across all age groups. Despite this, just two fifths (41%) of these businesses have responded by increasing their spending on mental health support, while under a third (28%) said they had boosted training around mental health challenges.
Business leaders also said that they had observed mental health services being most utilised by younger employees, with 69% believing these services were well-utilised by staff aged 25-34. Notably, mental health issues were most prominently observed in this younger cohort, with 51% of business leaders reporting a significant impact among employees aged 25-34, compared to decreasing concerns among older workers.
Despite the clear prevalence and potential impact of mental health, few businesses are actively tracking data that relates to these issues. Less than half of leaders (44%) actively collect data on incidences of anxiety, and the same number (44%) on depression. Slightly more (46%) collect data on stress-related disorders. This lack of data collection hinders efforts to accurately assess the scope of the problem, identify employees at risk, and implement effective support measures.
With an intersection of mental health and neurodiversity, it’s critical that employers are aware of the neurodiverse make-up of their staff. However, 38% of business leaders don’t believe they’ve had any incidents of cognitive conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s, while 28% and 23% reported no incidences of learning difficulties or neurodiversity like ADHD or autism. This means many leaders are operating in the dark when it comes to conditions that may impact mental wellbeing at work.
These findings underscore the need for businesses to prioritise the mental wellbeing of their workforces. Failure to do so can lead to significant financial and productivity implications. By neglecting to track mental health conditions, businesses may miss opportunities to address issues early, potentially resulting in increased absenteeism, decreased employee morale, and reduced productivity. Investing in mental health support programs can not only improve employee satisfaction but also enhance overall business performance.
Looking ahead, businesses recognise the importance of addressing the issue. Two-fifths said that they (40%) see strengthening mental health support programmes as a key strategic priority, with 38% of businesses planning to implement mental health support programmes, while others are adopting phased returns to work (34%) and offering greater flexibility in working arrangements (31%).
These steps that businesses are taking are essential in overcoming this stigma and helping to increase economic inactivity, which rose by 350,000 between May 2023 and May 2024, according to official ONS data. This is especially true given the most prevalent health condition among those economically inactive because of long-term sickness is depression, bad nerves or anxiety.
Read the article in full here: Bosses blind to mental health crisis as absenteeism soars
