Julie Dennis, Head of Inclusive Workplaces Policy at Acas (The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), said: “Time To Talk Day is a great opportunity for employers to raise awareness of well-being at work and to be approachable and available for workers that want to talk about their mental health.
“Taking the time to talk openly about mental health can avoid problems building up and lead to improved morale at work. It might be difficult for someone to talk about their mental health so it’s important for managers to be respectful, supportive and reassuring.”
Acas has some top tips for employers on talking about mental health at work:
- Be approachable, available and encourage team members to talk to you if they’re having problems.
- Keep in regular contact with your team to check how they are coping.
- Address any individual communication preferences such as asking team members if they prefer to talk face-to-face, over the phone, through video meetings or by email.
- Respect confidentiality and be calm, patient, supportive and reassuring if a staff member wants to have a chat about their mental health.
- Look after your own mental health and get support if you feel under more pressure than usual. This support could be a colleague at work, a mental health first aider or a counsellor.
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