Looking after your employees' mental health
When your employees dedicate so much of their time and energy to your business, it’s understandable that you’d want to ensure that they’re healthy and happy both inside and outside of work. However, when one of your team is experiening a mental health problem, it can impact all areas of their life.
We all feel overwhelmed by things at times. Whether they're work-related stresses, or worries in our personal lives, these everyday stresses can come and go with little or no intervention. However, when one of your team is experiencing stress, anxiety or depression it can affect all aspects of their wellbeing. And this can have a big impact on your business too.
In the following sections, Eugene Farrell, Mental Health Consultancy Lead at AXA Health, shares his tips and advice for how small business owners can support mental health at work.
Research conducted on behalf of AXA Health
When asked which benefits employees think they get/would get from the health and wellbeing strategy they have in place at work:4
Q&A with Eugene Farrell, Mental Health Lead
What are the signs that someone in my team may be experiencing a mental health problem?
While everybody deals with mental health difficulties differently, there are some key signs to look out for that may indicate that someone in your team may be struggling with their mental health. These include:
Absence
While a certain level of absence is unavoidable in any business, if one of your team is regularly taking long periods of time off work, it can be a sign that things aren’t quite right and may warrant further investigation.
Heightened emotions
Have you noticed that one of your team is suddenly having angry outbursts in the middle of the office? Or is someone unusually upset when projects don’t go quite to plan or they have a difficult conversation with a client?
Avoidance
This can manifest in a number of different ways. It could be avoidance of additional work responsibilities, or new work projects. Or it could be avoidance of social situations, particularly if the employee in question is usually the life and soul of the party.
Mood changes
Mood changes can be a big indicator that one of your team may be struggling with their mental health. Have you noticed that one of your employees has become quiet and withdrawn from the rest of the team when they would usually be involved in all the office conversations?
Negativity
Consistent negativity and sarcasm may be a sign that one of your team is struggling with their mental health, particularly if they’re usually upbeat and positive.
Low productivity
If you’ve noticed the productivity of one of your employees has taken a hit, or the quality of their work has dropped compared to what they would normally produce, then this may indicate that they’re struggling. This may be something that you notice amongst members of your team if they work remotely too. Have they been making frequent errors in their work recently which is unusual for them? Are they missing more deadlines than they normally would?
Fatigue
Have you noticed that one of your team is more tired than they usually would be? Are they relying more on coffee to get them through the day?
How do I have a conversation with one of my employees about their mental health?
It’s understandable that many business owners may feel uncomfortable broaching the topic of mental health with their employees, particularly if they’re concerned that someone in their team may be struggling. However, normalising discussions around mental health will have benefits for your team and your business, as employees will feel more comfortable opening up when they may be struggling and need extra support.
How are you, really?
If you’ve ascertained that you’re the right person to have the conversation, and it’s the right time and place, start by asking your employee how they are. Most people will initially start by saying they’re fine so you may need to ask twice, and ask how they really are.
You could start by saying that you’ve noticed they haven’t been themselves lately, or identify another behaviour or action that has led to you feeling concerned. It’s important not to make this accusatory, however, as they may become defensive and close up.
The right time and place
The first thing that business owners should be mindful of is that mental health struggles can be very personal, so some people may not feel comfortable opening up straight away. If your team member does not want to talk at first, be respectful of that choice. When they’re ready, it’s important to actively listen, be respectful, and to approach the conversation in a supportive way:
- Choose a place that feels more casual – a boardroom may feel too formal, however they may feel much more comfortable in a coffee shop.
- Don’t force the conversation – respect if someone doesn’t want to talk.
- Say what you’ve seen, how they’re not themselves for example.
- Express your concern for them.
- Allow space for them to talk.
- If they do not want to talk, then move on. Are you the right person to have the conversation? Maybe they would feel more comfortable talking to another colleague - perhaps someone with whom they have a stronger relationship.
Work together
Once the conversation starts to flow, ensure that you actively listen. Avoid bringing your own experiences into the conversation, and don’t make assumptions about how they’re feeling.
Ensure they know that the conversation will be kept confidential, and that you’ll work together to help or resolve the situation. For example, if they’re experiencing stress due to workloads and deadlines, you can work together to manage their workload and delegate actions where necessary.
What should I do to normalise mental health discussions in the workplace?
Mental health should be a part of the culture of an organisation, where people don’t feel threatened or worried to raise the subject of mental health or disclose when they may be struggling. Talking about mental health should be as common as talking about the weather.
Training
Training and development play an important part in the normalising of mental health discussions in the workplace. Whether that’s training for line managers on how to have difficult conversations with their team, or training in resilience and stress management for all your employees.
Language
You should also be aware of the language that’s being used within your workforce in reference to mental health. Disparaging remarks and unhelpful negative labelling shouldn’t be tolerated. All your employees should feel that they work in a safe and tolerant environment, and it’s everyone in the business’ job to ensure that these values are upheld.
Be a role model
Lastly, as the owner of the business, you can be a role model to the rest of your team. If you’re comfortable openly discussing mental health, it’s more likely that your team will feel comfortable talking about it too.
How can I support a member of my team who is experiencing a mental health problem?
Let them know support is there
Firstly, it’s important to make it known that you and your organisation want to help. Experiencing a mental health problem can be a really isolating time, so knowing that they have support from you and the team can make a big difference.
Signpost to services
Ensure that they know where they can go to access professional support. For example, if your business has an Employee Assistance Programme in place, make sure that they know how they can access it. Check in to see how they are getting on too. It’s likely it’s not a one-off situation so it’s important to regularly touch base with them to see how they are.
Wellness action plan
Consider putting in place a wellness action plan to help them start feeling like themselves again. This can take a number of different forms depending on the situation, but agreeing some changes at work may be helpful. If they’ve been off work due to mental health, work with them to create a return to work plan. This can help to reduce the worry that can come with going back to work after a long period of time spent away.
How can I look after my team’s mental health at work?
1. Make people aware of mental health through training
Everyone should have basic training to better understand mental health, and ensure that people know some of the key signs to look out for that may indicate that they or one of their colleagues could be struggling with their mental health.
2. Develop and encourage personal insight
To ensure that your team are regularly checking in with themselves and how they’re feeling. This can help them to identify when they may be struggling themselves.
3. Offer mental health first aid training
There are a number of public courses that you can make available to your team. All managers especially should be trained in how to identify the signs that someone in their team may be experiencing a mental health issue.
4. Get to know your team and keep in touch
This not only helps to build relationships with team members and helps them to feel more comfortable opening up, but it can also help you to identify when one of your employees is not acting like themselves. For example, someone in your team may usually be the life and soul of the office, however if you notice that they are unusually quiet or emotional, it may indicate that they are experiencing a mental health problem.
5. Encourage a positive work life balance
When work is busy and there’s lots of deadlines to meet, it can be easy to let your work time slip into your personal time. However, when this happens on a regular basis, it can have a negative impact on mental health. Make sure your team are taking time to relax and recharge.
Make it clear that you do not expect responses to emails outside of each persons normal working hours. You should also encourage them to make use of their annual leave allowance and take time away from work. You too need to be a good role model for work life balance.
Simple, fast access to mental health treatment
Our Mental Health cover option can help to show your commitment to supporting mental health, whether someone in your team needs counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or care in a private hospital (cover may be subject to medical history). Plus, you can rest assured they can start receiving help quickly, without any fuss.
They may not need to take time out of their day in order to get a GP referral, they simply need to call us to arrange an assessment with one of our experienced mental health experts who will listen to their concerns and guide them to the right support. If therapy is recommended, a therapist is sourced for them.
Please note - availability of mental health cover is subject to medical history. Our mental health assessment and support service is available to members age 18 and over.
Mental Health option example plan
Our Mental Health option offers access to psychological treatment by mental health experts when referred by a specialist, for you and your employees from as little £2.72 a month per employee.
Our business health insurance plans also offer other cover options, including Treatment, Outpatient and Therapies cover options.
We can help you build a plan that’s right for your business and your budget.
Example price based on a 30 year old on AXA Health Business Health plan, as part of a group of 3, based in TN2 (Kent), with moratorium underwriting, £100 excess, with the Mental Health Option.
What the Mental Health cover option pays for:
Counselling sessions
Through our mental health assessment and support service, helping your employees get the help they need quickly.
This service is for over 18's only.
Outpatient treatment
Cover for psychiatrists for psychiatric treatment, or treatment by psychologists and cognitive behavioural therapists.
Care in hospital
Private psychiatric treatment fees, including accommodation, diagnostic tests and drugs at any of the hospitals or day-patient units in our Directory of Hospitals.
How can I look after my own mental health at work?
Tune in to your feelings |
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Create a positive work-life balance |
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You know your mood and emotions better than anybody, so it’s important to be honest with yourself when you aren’t feeling like your usual self. Don’t push yourself to perform at your best when you aren’t feeling great as that can lead to burnout. If your mind is telling you that you need a break, then it’s important to listen and take some time out, whether that’s going for an afternoon walk or booking a weekend away. Be honest with your team too and help normalise conversations around mental health. |
Work life balance is so important to your mental health, and it can be particularly challenging to achieve when you own a business. When your business means so much to you, it can be tempting to work all hours of the day and night. However, it’s important to make time to relax and unwind from the stresses that can come with work. Some people enjoy a morning yoga class while others prefer an evening catching up on a TV boxset. Find what works for you and do more of it. |
How can I encourage my team to look after theirs?
Ensure that you talk about mental health openly with your team
You want your people to be physically and mentally healthy both inside and outside of work, and to feel comfortable talking about it when they may not be feeling their best. Get your team interested in mental health. If you’re happy to, you could share your own experiences of mental health to start the discussion. You could also incorporate mindfulness activities into your workplace wellbeing programme.
This might include lunchtime yoga classes for example, or mindful breathing classes. Training and workshops are also a good way to educate your team, including how they can look after their own mental health as well as the mental health of their colleagues.
You should also encourage your team to look after their minds outside of work. Promote activities like exercise, socialising, yoga and mindfulness. These can help give your team a boost both physically and mentally. Ensure that they’re giving themselves time to relax and spend time doing the things they enjoy, particularly in the evenings and at weekends. Ensure that they’re taking their annual leave allowance too. Even if they don’t have a holiday planned, taking a day or two to spend time on a hobby or with friends and family can make a big difference to their mental health.
Employee Assistance Programme cover option
With an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in place, your team can get help with the things that are affecting them right away before they start to impact their wellbeing and productivity.
Whether it’s a family break up, difficulties with debt or questions about mortgages, you can rest assured that your team will have someone to talk to confidentially, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We offer two levels of cover, EAP Essentials and EAP Premier.
Our EAP options are not available on their own, without other cover options in the plan.
EAP Premier cover option
Plus, with our EAP Premier cover option, you get all the benefits of EAP cover as well as:
Face-to-face counselling
EAP Premier members will receive up to eight face-to-face sessions (these can also be held virtually depending on preference) with a clinical specialist for each team member, as well as structured online live-chat counselling.
Support for your managers
to help them to meet day-to-day team challenges.
What does this cover option pay for?
Remote support
For psychological and mental health conditions including fast access to fully qualified mental health professionals just a phone call away or online, with no GP referral needed.
Online help when you need it
information and guidance on a variety of practical, medical and wellbeing topics through our online portal.
Help with home or work life
Practical, impartial support for home and family issues, as well as information about financial and legal matters such as dealing with debt, buying a house or your consumer rights, through our LifeManagement service.
Build a health insurance plan that works for you and your business
At AXA Health, we know that every business is unique. That’s why we offer a choice of private medical insurance options and benefits that you can select from, so you only pay for the cover you want.
We provide healthcare cover for 1 to 249 employees and have a number of cost saving options available, so it may be more affordable than you think.
If you are buying cover for 1-2 people only, you will need to include either the Treatment option or the Diagnostics Only option in your plan.
Regardless of the cover options you choose, you’ll have access to the following included as standard:
Online private GP service
Access to our 24/7 online GP service. Appointments are subject to availability.
Muscle, bone & joint support
Physiotherapy advice over the phone or online, with no GP referral required. Available to members aged 18 and over.
Heart and cancer nurses
Available by phone, who are experienced in supporting you and your family when living with these conditions.
Gym, spa and pool discounts
Access to up to 40% off Nuffield Health, Fitness and Wellbeing centres or Hussle Monthly+ pass multi-gym, individual membership fees for you and all your employees. Terms and conditions apply.
AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing - our latest findings
We often think of our mind and body as separate, but our mental and physical health are connected and just as important as each other. We need to prioritise them both in equal parts so we can be the best version of ourselves. To understand the current state of mind health across the globe, AXA surveyed 30,000 people from across the world.
Find out how you can support yourself and your team to be mind-healthy by calling our small-business experts on 0800 389 7413.
The AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing, published in 2023 has found that:
AXA Health small business health insurance
To find out more about the options available, including what is and isn’t covered, call our small business experts on 0800 389 7413
Lines are open 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.
1 The AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing, published 2023
2 Mental Health at Work 2020: building back responsibly - Business in the Community, 2020
3 Health and Safety Executive, 2022
4 Research by onepoll on behalf of AXA PPP healthcare of 1,500 employees working for companies of up to 250 people, May 2019
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