Workplace mental health is a systemic challenge

World Mental Health Day 2024: How can we prioritise mental health in the workplace?

Mental health is sometimes thought of as what people bring with them into the workplace. As a result, support mechanisms such as counselling, yoga and time-out of work, are orientated to the individual and their difficulties. However, for many, it is the workplace itself which is the source or aggravator of their stress and poor mental health.

Many jobs are, by their very nature, high pressure and stressful, whether this is in high-stakes commercial firms or public services working with distressed and ill people. This may be unavoidable, but it doesn’t mean that steps can’t be taken to support the people in these roles and mitigate against the work leading to illness, burnout and high staff turnover – none of which are in the interests of either the individual or the organisation.

Instead of workplace mental health being individualised as a personal problem, it needs to be addressed systemically as an organisational problem. This means looking at the causes of difficulties and ensuring that the task of addressing them is the responsibility of managers and leaders at all levels – not simply located in the role of one individual ‘mental health lead’.

This is not a straightforward task and may benefit from the input of an organisational development consultant such as those undertaking the Professional Doctorate in Advanced Practice and Research: Consultation and the Organisation at the Tavistock and Portman.

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Dr Nick Waggett

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