Managing Mental Health (at Work)

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2 Managing Mental Health (at Work)

3 So what do you hope to get from this session?

4 Can you name some types of Mental Health Conditions? Depression Eating problems Phobias Anxiety Schizophrenia Stress Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Personality disorder Bipolar disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

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6 Common mental health problems (CMHPs) These are mental health conditions are most frequent and more prevalent; and are successfully treated in primary care settings like GPs rather than by specialists such as Psychiatrists Depression 1 Generalised anxiety disorder Panic disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder

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8 Depression The main symptoms are feeling 'low' and losing pleasure in things that were once enjoyable. These symptoms may be combined with others, such as feeling tearful, irritable or tired most of the time, changes in appetite, and problems with sleep, concentration and memory. 1 People with depression typically have lots of negative thoughts and feelings of guilt and worthlessness; they often criticise themselves and lack confidence. Source:

9 Generalised anxiety disorder The main symptoms are having a number of different worries that are excessive and out of proportion to a particular situation, and having difficulty in controlling one's worries. 1 A person with generalised anxiety disorder may also feel irritable and have physical symptoms such as restlessness, feeling easily tired, and having tense muscles. They may also have trouble concentrating or sleeping. Source:

10 Panic disorder The main symptoms are having unexpected and recurring panic attacks, and also worrying about having another panic attack. One of the symptoms of a panic attack is an increased heart rate. A panic attack may happen 1 because of a particular situation (something that the person fears or wants to avoid), or it may have no obvious cause. People who have panic attacks often change their behaviour as a consequence of the attack, which may develop into phobias such as agoraphobia (a fear of being in places or situations that are difficult to escape from). Source:

11 Obsessive-compulsive disorder The main symptoms are having thoughts, images or impulses that keep coming into the mind and are difficult to get rid of (called obsessions), and a strong feeling that the 1 person must carry out or repeat certain physical acts or mental processes (called compulsions). Source:

12 Obsessive-compulsive disorder Common obsessions include being afraid of dirt and germs, worrying that something is not safe (such as an electrical appliance), wanting to have things in a particular order, and thoughts and fears of harming someone else. 1 Common compulsions include excessive washing and cleaning, checking things repeatedly, keeping objects that other people might throw away, and repeating acts, words or numbers in a pattern. Source:

13 Post-traumatic stress disorder Psychological and physical symptoms that can sometimes follow particular threatening or distressing events. One of the most common symptoms of PTSD is having repeated and intrusive distressing memories of the event. 1 There may also be a feeling of reliving the event through flashbacks or nightmares. There can also be physical reactions, such as shaking and sweating. Source:

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15 So what does that mean for the workplace

16 CMHPs and Work Related Stress Work related stress and CMHPs often go together. The symptoms of both can be similar, Work Related Stress may exasperate an existing mental health condition that the employee may have successfully managed without letting it affect their work.

17 Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 2 - General duties of employers to their employees. (1)It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.

18 Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 2 - General duties of employers to their employees. (2)Without prejudice to the generality of an employer s duty under the preceding subsection, the matters to which that duty extends include in particular (e) the provision and maintenance of a working environment for his employees that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe, without risks to health, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work.

19 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Regulation 3 Requires employers to assess risks to health and safety from the hazards of work. This includes the risk of employees developing stress-related illness because of their work. Employers are required to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment..

20 Equality Act 2010 Section 6(1) "A person (P) has a disability if (a) P has a physical or mental impairment, and (b) the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on P s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Schedule 1 part 1 provides guidance, and further clarification can be found in the Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010, SI No and in the Guidance on matters to be taken into account in determining questions relating to the definition of disability. The Guidance is available on the EHRC website, Source: UNISON s Proving Disability and Reasonable Adjustments A guide to evidence under the Equality Act 2010

21 Q. Is there any difference in protections for Those who disclose their mental health condition at work? Those who do not disclose?

22 A. Yes There is difference in protections for those who disclose their mental health condition at work, to those who don t An employer only has to make adjustments where they are aware, or should reasonably be aware, that an employee has a disability.

23 Extended duty of Care Once an employer is deemed to be aware an employee has a mental health condition, they have an extended - duty of care This awareness provided clear evidence to the employer that the member is at risk of suffering a psychiatric illness. As such if the employer does not take reasonable steps to avoid further injury, then it would be regarded as reasonably foreseeable should such injury occur.

24 HSE Management Standards for work related stress The Management Standards cover six key areas of work design that, if not properly managed, are associated with poor health and well-being, lower productivity and increased sickness absence. In other words, the six Management Standards cover the primary sources of stress at work. These are: Demands. Control. Support. Relationships Role Change Scource:

25 What is meant by Foreseeability

26 Why does my employer use terms like emotional resilience

27 So when is the employer deemed to have been informed of a disability

28 A. Whilst this information can be exchanged verbally, it is always best if there is some form of written evidence to support that the employee has made the employer aware of their condition. This need not be formal, so can take the form of a follow up to the conversation, but need to be able to show what has been disclosed.

29 So what's the problem?

30 Q. How many people with mental health problems experience stigma and discrimination? A. 9 out of 10 Source:

31 Supporting members to disclose the mental health condition It my be helpful to have a note from their doctor or another professional to explain: what mental health problems they have how they may affect then what adjustments might help to manage their work However, a good employer will often ask the employee to meet with their occupational health provider, in order to receive advise on how best to support the employee, and any reasonable adjustment(s). That are recommended.

32 Further Supporting members Try to negotiate disability related leave, or adjustments to capability procedures. Provide a safe environment for member s to disclosed or discuss mental health concerns Lobby your employer to sign up to become a time to change employer

33 Resource Links

34 Thank you Any Other Questions? Contact us: