Ibec publishes new Mental Health in Business report

Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, has today released a major new research report (see attached) that highlights the positive measures being undertaken by business to address mental health issues in the workplace.  


Dr. Kara McGann, Ibec Head of Social Policy, outlines: “We all have mental health that, like physical health, can fluctuate over time. Although as many as one in five people of working age experience a mental health problem such as anxiety or depression, it remains an area that many people do not understand or may fear and as a result it is not talked about freely. Therefore, it is imperative for businesses to create and maintain a positive organisational culture that supports employee disclosures of mental ill health. 


“Our research shows that employers are, year on year, continually embedding good practices in the workplace, leading to real conversations taking place among employees around mental health and well-being.
 
“Dispelling the myths associated with mental health through wellbeing campaigns, will reduce the stigma and improve the quality of life for people who experience mental health conditions. We see from our research that the proportion of companies engaged in such campaigns increased year on year from 13% in 2012 to almost three times this level (38%) in 2019.  

“Coupled with this, the proportion of companies communicating the practical steps involved in dealing with disclosures of mental health Issues has almost doubled over the life of the study, from 15% in 2014 to 28% in 2019, illustrating the increased priority given to mental health by organisations.  

“While more work needs to be done, the findings outlined in the report are an encouraging step in the right direction.” 

Amongst the key findings from the report include:
 
• The percentage of organisations experiencing mental health disclosures has increased between 2014 and 2019, from 43% to 51%. 
• The proportion of organisations with mental wellbeing campaigns in place increased in each consecutive year, almost tripling over the period under review. Some 13% of companies had a mental wellbeing campaign in place in 2012 compared with 38% in 2019. 
• Over the period of the study, provision of training to line managers on dealing with mental health issues increased from 8% to 18%. Similar training to HR staff increased from 11% to 21% and training for other employees from 6% to 14%. 
• The proportion of respondents offering training in stress management/resilience increased between 2012 and 2019, almost doubling from 13% to 25%.