Safer Highways UK | New report shows the real cost of mental ill-health the the work place

On the eve of the inaugural Safer Highways UK, a report published this week has revealed the real cost of poor mental health in the workplace.

Published by the Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health, the report stresses that ‘the UK faces a significant mental health challenge at work.’It points out that:

• while there are more people at work with mental health conditions than ever before, 300,000 people with a long term mental health problem lose their jobs each year, and at a much higher rate than those with physical health conditions

• behind this, our analysis shows that around 15% of people at work have symptoms of an existing mental health condition.

The review includes a detailed analysis that explores the significant cost of poor mental health to UK businesses and the economy as a whole. Poor mental health costs employers between £33 billion and £42 billion a year, with an annual cost to the UK economy of between £74 billion and £99 billion.

Importantly, it sets out what employers can do to better support all employees, including those with mental health problems to remain in and thrive through work. It has been undertaken by Lord Dennis Stevenson and Paul Farmer.

To download the report click here

As Part of an industry wide demand for greater focus on this issue, we are delighted to welcome Emma Hughes of A-one+ and Phillip Ross of Connect Plus services to this year’s Safer Highways UK event to share their organisations experiences of better promotion of an awareness of the signs of poor Mental Health.

Taking place as part of the wider Highways UK event, Safer Highways UK takes place in its own dedicated theatre, sponsored by the above organisation, on Wednesday 8 November; the programme includes a series of presentations designed to give employers solutions to issues in the fields of workforce engagement, breaking down barriers to cultural change, legal compliance and dealing with stigmas surrounding mental health in the workplace.

The programme features presentations from Mike Wilson, Chief Highways Engineer atHighways England, Lucy Fell, Director of Safety, Health and Wellbeing at the same organisation and Steve Gooding, Director at the RAC Foundation.

The event is certificated for continued professional development by the CIHT, for more information on the breadth of activities at Highways UK click here and Safer Highways UK in particular, here.