An analysis by the Centre for Mental Health commissioned by the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network and released in March calculated that the cost of mental ill health to the UK economy in 2022 sat somewhere around £300 billion.
In addition to sickness absence and staff turnover, that figure takes into account health and care costs, reduced quality of life, premature mortality, and is equal to double the NHS’s £153 billion budget in England in 2022. In other words, it is comparable to a yearly pandemic — the estimated impact of COVID-19 on the UK economy was £260 billion.
Those figures underscore a need for government action. But businesses can be prepared, too. Not only is there a legal requirement for employers to provide a duty of care to their staff; understanding the causes and consequences of mental ill health, and taking appropriate action, brings long-term benefits.
Men’s mental health a challenge
Coach and bus remains a male dominated industry. That carries with it a unique challenge when it comes to mental health.
According to Mental Health UK, men are less likely to seek help for mental health — only 36% of NHS referrals for therapy are for men — while almost half report that they would be ashamed or embarrassed to tell their employer they were concerned about their mental health. Mental ill health is cited as a leading cause of death for men under the age of 50 in the UK, with 75% of deaths by suicide affecting males, putting them three times more likely to die by such means than women.
Ollie Bell (pictured) is a workplace wellbeing specialist and has been working and studying in that space for the last 10 years. He is well versed in men’s mental wellbeing, working in industries across the academic universe and corporate and charitable sectors, and researched a men’s health and mental health programme that is now being delivered by the Newcastle United Foundation, a charity arm of Newcastle United Football Club.
Earlier this year Ollie founded Fred Wellbeing, which provides practical support to help small and medium enterprises manage workplace wellbeing. Courses go from basic awareness training, giving practical tips and tools to change the narrative around mental health and workplace wellbeing, through to tailored line manager training and a mental health first aid training course delivered as part of the Mental Health First Aid England programme.
C: Champion positive health and wellbeing. What role model behaviours are you exhibiting?
A: Approachable: Are you an approachable manager and giving staff confidence to speak?
R: Respond appropriately. Training courses can assist.
E: Exercise self-care. Being your best self ensures you can give the right support to others.
Risks for coach and bus
Ollie first began working with the coach and bus sector through the Confederation of Passenger Transport wherein he delivered online workshops during the pandemic, and has since had conversations with a number of coach and bus operators across North East England to understand difficulties operators face when it comes to people management.
“A lot of the time, we find managers or business owners who are very technically skilled, but who sometimes struggle with people,” he explains. “That can keep smaller business owners up at night. Being responsible for others and having an influence on how they think and feel can add a lot of burden to what is already a stressful role as a small business owner. Getting basic tools and techniques can offer reassurance that managers are doing the right thing and that they have the best intentions at heart.”
In addition to the CARE approach to ensure staff feel they have space to talk, Ollie highlights a sedentary lifestyle and social isolation as risks for the industry, particularly its drivers. He urges operators to ask themselves what doors they are opening to provide remedies. Options can include space for staff to exercise before a shift and group social and exercise activities to encourage dialogue. For example, are staff encouraged to walk during breaks, or take part in exertion activities that they enjoy?
Getting such basics right has been proven to bring improvements in recruitment, retention, sickness absence and performance.
“Taking mental health seriously within the workplace will have an impact on all of those,” Ollie says. “We’re more likely to recruit better people and keep hold of them. We’re more likely to prevent sickness absences. If we do all those things, people will do a better job for us. That leads to a better experience for the customer.”
External support networks
While putting support structures in place safeguards staff, business owners may feel they fall outside of those structures. That’s where external support networks can help.
Trade organisations are one route where the community is presented an opportunity to provide a space for mental health support. “Those conversations are usually transactional, but if you can create an environment within those networks where people vulnerable to similar situations can support each other, that can be hugely rewarding,” Ollie says.
He also highlights a need for healthcare in the mix. “People need to recognise when they themselves need to reach out for help. That can put others at risk,” he says. One excellent resource is Hub of Hope, a national mental health database that brings help and support together in one location.
The call for management support networks is highlighted by Richard Bamber, Managing Partner at Anthony’s Travel. Richard has been open about his mental wellbeing in the past and acknowledges the struggle many individuals have in the coach industry, and has made a point to provide safeguarding courses for his staff.
He saw a positive response from fellow business owners to his efforts to begin the dialogue. Such action is needed to challenge stigmas; a candid interview with routeone in 2018 formed part of that, and is worthwhile reading today. Richard says it is important to recognise individuals, emphasise communication, and be observant of subtle signs or changes in staff demeanour. That can indicate where mental health issues may lie. Benevolent schemes as part of charities or trade organisations can make a major difference in providing staff and their families with both health and financial support. One such example is RHA’s wellbeing app, introduced last year, that allows for 24/7 access to counselling.
You can reach out to Ollie at Ollie@fredwellbeing.com
