In response to the Chief Medical Officer’s Annual report, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has agreed that employers should be recognizing and supporting the effects work can have on mental illness.
Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer, published a report released 9 September 2014 that asks employers to recognize the importance of mental illness in the work place, and offer support to employees suffering from it.
The report states that employers should offer those suffering from mental illness the option of flexible working, which would allow them to remain in employment during the period of their illness. Furthermore, the report recommends that employers should ensure they keep in regular contact with those on sick leave who are suffering from mental illness.
The report also outlines that 70 million days of work were lost in 2013 as a result of poor mental health. This marks a 24 per cent increase in days lost since 2009. Furthermore, it is estimated that mental illness costs the UK economy roughly 4.5 per cent of GDP at a cost of £70 - £100 billion a year.
Richard Jones, Head of policy and public affairs at IOSH said:
“Dame Sally Davies rightly highlights the huge human and financial costs of failing to deal with mental health issues. Employers, professionals and government all have important roles to play. We need all work to be ‘good work’ – well-designed and managed and flexible and supportive – so that mental health is protected and promoted. A degree of employee control, supportive managers and timely access to evidence-based interventions are all parts of this equation.”
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