While the number of people in the UK who regard their mental health as ‘flourishing’ has dropped back down to 2022 levels, employers who are happy with their company’s mental health support are three times as likely to be flourishing than those not satisfied.
This is according to a report from Axa Health who have this week launched their 2024 UK mind health workplace report to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week.
The report found that more than half (53%) of the UK are not in a positive state of mind health and more people are languishing (33%) than last year (26%).
It also found 18% of people in the UK are flourishing in the UK, back down to the same level as 2022 and down from 23% last year.
Workers in the UK aged between 18 and 24 have the highest rates of loneliness and social isolation and just over half (51%) said they feel lonely some or almost all of the time.
And 72% of young workers state mental health benefits and initiatives are an important factor when deciding whether to stay with an employer.
Rates of loneliness appears to decline the older people get. This trend continues until workers reach mid 60s when the loneliness rate climbed again, with 35% of over 65% feeling lonely over the past year.
But the study also recognised the need for more support for managers – a third of managers needed to take time off work due to their mental health in the past year.
This group are twice as likely to have taken sick leave due to their mental health within the last year and nearly a third (29%) have moderate to extremely severe symptoms of depression.
Around 57% of managers experienced stress, compared with 53% of non managers, 29% of managers had depression, compared with 16% of non managers and 14% had felt anxiety, compared with 3.6% of non managers.
The report also found that employees facing past difficulties who were satisfied with their company’s support were three times more likely to report flourishing than those who weren’t satisfied
Five recommendations
Consequently Axa Health’s report recommends five ways companies can prioritise mind health support in the workplace.
These include:
- Find different ways to help people flourish: this could include offering and promoting self-help tools, providing training to develop skills or giving access to mind health coaching
- Focus on flexibility: a good work-life balance is essential for happy and healthy employees and flexibility is the key to meet people’s different needs
- Train, support and empower managers: managers are more likely to experience symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression so give them the right support and easy access to training to have a positive effect on the workforce as a whole
- Invest in young talent: help younger people flourish by providing ongoing support and develop good relationships to enable flourishing mind health
- Create a culture of trust, respect and kindness: find new ways to engage, encourage and normalise conversations about difficult topics and invest in workplace relationships
Eugene Farrell, mental health consultancy lead at Axa Health, said: “An inclusive work environment is about creating a culture of psychological safety where people know their mental health and personal wellbeing is always a priority.
“It needs to be embedded into the fabric of the company, so people know they’re always safe at work and can feel empowered to express any concerns or struggles.
“Kindness in the workplace is contagious. It makes people feel valued, respected and included. And when people feel those things it helps form a virtuous circle where trust, respect and kindness grows.”
Dr Imren Sterno, lead consultant clinical psychologist, Axa Health, said: “The data from the study suggests companies need to consider a more tailored personal approach to support individuals to flourish.
“This can help people feel empowered – not just to manage their own mental wellbeing, but to be open about mind health and support others.
“This helps promote an understanding culture where people want to work and where they feel a sense of belonging, purpose and togetherness.
“There are many great ways to maintain good mind health. Ultimately, it’s about being kind to yourself, forming good habits, taking care of yourself, seeing friends, setting boundaries, taking positive steps and not allowing negative thoughts to get in the way.”