Stress, depression and anxiety continue to be the biggest causes of work-related ill-health, according to statistics from the HSE, with an estimated 964,000 workers being affected in 2024-25, resulting in 22.1 million lost working days.
No matter whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, the law requires employers to prevent work-related stress to support good mental health in the workplace.
The HSE’s 5 steps of Working Minds Campaign can help you to prevent stress and support good mental health of your employees:
- reach out and have conversations
- recognise the signs and causes of stress
- respond to any risks identified by agreeing on action points
- reflect on the actions taken – have things improved?
- make it routine to check back in on how things are going
By being proactive, you can improve productivity, reduce sickness absence and help retain valued workers.
For work-related measures to be effective, they should be part of your organisation’s everyday routine.
To prevent stress and support mental health at work, your organisation should aim to:
- educate your people about the causes and effects of stress.
- promote effective stress management techniques to enhance mental health and wellbeing.
- encourage open conversations to reduce the stigma surrounding stress and mental health issues.
- provide resources and support to help individuals manage stress effectively.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can support you and your team’s wellbeing, check out our Workplace Wellbeing Service.
