Supporting men’s mental health in the workplace
November is Men’s Mental Health Month and is a time to raise awareness of the mental health challenges men face, encourage open conversations, challenge stigma and promote seeking help.
Men’s mental health in the workplace
Men spend more of their lives in the workplace than women and are twice as likely to work full-time hours. This makes it crucial for employers to provide appropriate mental health support, not just in November, but all year round.
More than 190,000 men in the UK experience work-related stress, depression, or anxiety.
Around half (51%) have taken time off for mental health reasons, but fewer than one in six told their employer the real reason.
52% worry about taking time off for mental health, and 46% would feel embarrassed to discuss it with their employer.
How can employers help?
As a business owner or line manager, you can support your male employee’s mental health in many ways, including:
Fostering an open, non-judgmental culture where discussing mental health is normal
Lead by example - although easier said than done sometimes, it’s up to you to lead by example. Encourage senior male leaders to share their own experiences to help normalize the conversation and make it easier for others to open up.
Provide training for managers to recognise signs of mental health issues.
Offer Employee Assistance Programs such as counselling and other support services and ensure employees know how to access them easily.
Offer resources like online tools, mindfulness exercises, or stress management programs that employees can access easily.
Offer flexible, remote or compressed working hours to help employees better manage personal commitments and reduce stress.
Creating a workplace culture of openness, understanding and support, normalising conversations and providing support can make a real difference in the wellbeing of your male employees.
When men feel safe to speak up and supported, everyone benefits. If you’re unsure where to start with supporting your male employees or want expert guidance and advice, then we are HR experts and we can help you create a plan to support your team.
Please contact us – we’d love to hear from you.