Let’s talk men’s mental health

So, why do we need to raise awareness about men’s mental health?

Ireland was the first country in the world to publish a National Men’s Health Policy back in 2009. And Mary Butler TD recently announced €2 million of funding for male-focused talk therapies and counselling.

However, according to Samaritans Ireland, less than 20% of men over the age of 18 who are experiencing mental health difficulties will seek help from a mental health professional.

There are many reasons for this, but the biggest barrier is the perceived stigma around men’s mental health. And this barrier is showing no signs of breaking. According to the Movember Institute of Men’s Health, 2 in 3 people believe the government does not focus on the issues affecting men. So, there’s even more reason to get talking about men’s mental health.

Mental health in the workplace

As the average person spends around 85,000 hours at work in their lifetime, we need to talk about mental health in the workplace. Here are some of the ways business owners can help their staff:

Be proactive

Your managers should keep an eye out for signs that someone is struggling. And sometimes they’re hard to spot. Men are as likely to become withdrawn as they are to lash out. If your managers are unsure about what to look for, or need a refresher on how to approach sensitive topics, take a look at our e-learning courses to support these so-called soft skills.

Check in on your teams

Mental ill health can cause a decline in productivity. You can check trends in work and begin a dialogue with performance management software. It’s another way to start a conversation and gives the chance to set reasonable goals with support from management. Creating an open culture will also reduce the risk of burnout, absenteeism and resignations.

Provide confidential support

There are practical ways you can support your employees and their families. Confidential counselling services via an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) are a way to provide third-party support.

Our leading EAP is available 24/7 for employees and their families. As well as crisis counselling, it provides support with financial wellbeing, smoking and gambling cessation, nutrition, sleep, and weight management. And it all remains completely confidential, so the employer doesn’t know who has accessed the service.

Mental health issues and health & safety

Increased risk-taking can be a sign of mental ill health. And keeping your teams safe is part of your duty as an employer. Make sure your risk assessments and documentation are up to date.

Our health & safety software will keep you on track, with document templates that are updated every time legislation changes, reporting tools, and 24/7 advice. So, if you’re experiencing an issue, there’s legal and HR support whenever you need us.

Policies and procedures

Although there’s no legal requirement in the UK for a mental health policy, it’s a good move. A mental health & wellbeing policy will show your compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and your commitment to your employees.

How BrightHR can help

Mental ill health is a business risk. But much more than that, it’s a life-threatening risk to half of our male population. Here are the ways we can help you to safeguard your employees:

• Sign up to an Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 mental health support

• Get your health & safety documentation and risk assessments up to date

• Offer E-learning courses to train your teams in mental health support, raise awareness, and open conversations

You can find all of the above, and more, under one roof with BrightHR. So, whether you have an employment issue in mind, a burning health & safety question, or need a document refresh, you can chat to one of our friendly experts.

If you’d like to explore the issues above in more detail, read more in our guide to wellbeing in the workplace. It’s full of tips for starting those all-important conversations.

Other Resources

Movember: raising awareness for men’s mental and physical health

HSE: Mental health support

My Mind: counselling services including 6 free therapy sessions for men

MHFA: mental health first aid in Ireland