employer mental health support is the employee priority

mental health support from employers is the employee priority Out of the four key pillars of wellbeing, mental wellbeing is the number one priority that employees believe their employer should be responsible for supporting.

With half (49%) of employees choosing face in gaining access to the right this over the other areas of wellbeing, kind of help for them, and funding shows research* from GRiD, the group support privately can be prohibitively risk industry body. And when asked expensive. The theme of this year’s about which area of wellbeing the World Mental Health Day is ‘Mental individual employee would most like to Health for All’ and calls for greater have support for, mental wellbeing was investment, but that investment may again the top priority, with a third (34%) not have to be as significant as many choosing this over the other areas. employers think.

Whilst the research shows a clear “Employers would do well to look at the desire for mental health support over mental health support that’s included and above other areas of wellbeing, within their group risk purchase (such a significant number of employees as access to an Employee Assistance also want their employer to provide Programme, fast access to talking financial (29%), physical (22%) and therapies, apps for managing mental social (16%) wellbeing support too. Of health and more). Accessing the course, all of these areas affect mental mental health support that’s fully health, so help in any of these areas will funded by group risk providers, not have a knock-on effect of supporting only saves time and cost, but most mental wellbeing too. importantly, lives.”

For many, the first port of call for mental Mental ill health was the second main health support will be the NHS, but with cause of claim under group income the pressures the NHS faces, employees protection policies in 2019, clearly are likely to have to wait a long time to demonstrating the value that many get the help they need. When people employers and employees receive for have mental health challenges, it’s mental health from group risk. imperative that they get help as quickly as possible to improve outcomes. Mental health issues are as varied Employees are clearly looking to their condition can differ in severity from employer for support, and although person to person, the acuteness of the supporting mental health is rising to illness depends on a number of factors the top of the corporate agenda, and comes in many shapes and forms, many employers may be at a loss from mild anxiety to severe psychotic as to how to go about doing this, or episodes. As such, various types of feel they need to set aside a huge support may be required and this can fund. However, there is a wealth of include providing access to therapy, support at their fingertips within group treatment and counselling. risk benefits (employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and Employers who make good use of critical illness), and these frequently group risk embedded mental health come with embedded support, support can meet their employees’ including fast-track access to expectations and help them on their professional mental health support, journey back to good mental health. at no extra cost. as physical conditions. Whilst each If you feel your organisation needs Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for practical help on which employee GRiD, says: “Accessing mental health benefits can assist in supporting support independently is a minefield employee wellbeing or additional HR given the practical difficulties people support then advo can help.