Line Managers Central to government’s mental health strategy

Ensuring line managers are trained to promote workforce well-being will be crucial in supporting the government’s new mental health campaign, said Deborah Jamieson, the head of well-being strategy at the Department of Work and Pensions.
“Employers have a very positive role to play in the promotion of health, and the workplace is a great place to start by making sure that line managers have the right training.

“When people go off sick, there should be a line of communication. We want to return and retain people in work, and improve the health and well-being of the working age population.”

The government has outlined its campaign, which aims to detect and prevent mental health problems earlier in a bid to tackle the £105 billion cost to the economy and help the one in four people who suffer from such illnesses.

Deputy PM Nick Clegg announced an additional £400 million to extend personalized support to 3.2 million people across the country, by increasing access to psychological therapies such a counseling and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Addressing the CIPD’s well-being conference in February, Jaimeson explained that people really enjoyed better mental health when they were in meaningful work.
She said that employers should take on board that many line managers needed to raise their awareness of mental health issues and their understanding of how to respond confidently and effectively to staff affected by such problems.

Not recognizing the benefits of well-being initiatives and early intervention, plus a perception that employees needed to be 100% fit to return to work, were all barriers to change, Jamieson said.

“Line managers are often ill-equipped to handle sickness absence and health well-being issues”, she continued. “Unenlightened attitudes toward mental health and chronic pain, means that training is really crucial”.

Jaimeson said that improved access routes to psychological therapies were being piloted in association with health organizations, Jobcentre Plus and Disability Employment advisers.

“The sooner and employment adviser sees a client; the more likely it is that they will make a sufficient recovery to retain employment. The longer people are absent or out of work, the more likely they are to experience depression or anxiety.
Jamieson added that mental disorders now accounted for 30 to 40 per cent of early retirements across some EU member states, costing £295 billion.

She went on to say that the DWP itself had saved £20million in the past year through the introduction of well-being initiatives.