The Mental Health Crisis in the Workplace

How Poor Mental Health Support is Driving Employees Away.

New research reveals that over two-thirds of UK workers have quit or considered quitting their jobs due to poor management, with mental health concerns at the heart of the issue. A survey conducted recently found that 46% of employees feel uncomfortable discussing their mental health with their managers, highlighting the critical need for better management awareness.

Managers often lack the soft skills needed to support their teams effectively. While 83% of managers reported having formal leadership training, only 63% of their employees believe their managers are adequately trained. Employees particularly value listening and motivation, with 32% stating that their managers struggle with listening—a skill essential to fostering mental health in the workplace.

This lack of training has direct consequences for mental health. Over half of workers surveyed (57%) believe their managers need further training, particularly in addressing mental health challenges. Despite 87% of managers feeling prepared for their roles, a significant gap remains between their perception and the reality experienced by their employees.

A major issue highlighted in the study is the stigma surrounding mental health discussions. Only 54% of employees feel comfortable talking about their mental health at work, compared to 71% of managers. This gap creates a culture where workers feel unsupported, with 28% fearing that openly discussing mental health could harm their career progression.

Both managers and employees agree that mental health support is crucial. Nearly half of all respondents (42%) believe more focus is needed on the provision of a supportive workplace. Encouragingly, 74% of managers agree that further availability of mental health support could potentially reduce burnout and improve retention.

Research shows that investing in mental health can have a significant impact. Employers can play a critical role in employee wellbeing by prioritizing mental health support and businesses can foster environments where employees feel supported, leading to higher engagement and productivity. Ultimately, addressing the mental health needs of employees through effective support is key to creating healthier, more productive workplaces. With nearly half of employees never having received mental health support from their employer, the time for action is now.

At 1Stop4aGP, our extended service - 1Stop4aGP 360 - enables you to talk to GMC registered, currently practising GPs helping to expedite the diagnosis of a mental health issue whilst also granting access to face-to-face mental health counselling sessions (where deemed appropriate) for anyone in your immediate family (over the age of 16) It also allows your case to be managed holistically, with a dedicated Case Manager handling your case and dealing with all appropriate services / agencies until resolution.

Take a look and see how we can help you and your employees with our extended service, 1Stop4aGP 360.

1Stop4aGP. Here for you, anytime, anywhere.