We call on employers to ...
- understand and meet legislative requirements for occupational health (including mental health) and safety at work.
- commit to the protection and promotion of mental health and embed them into the organisational strategy. Include mental health on their agenda and utilise their existing occupational health and safety management system as the framework for mitigating psychosocial risks. Use tools available, including HSE Management Standards or ISO 45003:2021 guidelines, to manage psychosocial risks at work.
- ensure sound risk management which involves workers or their representatives and identifies psychosocial hazards, assesses psychosocial risks, identifies those at risk (including vulnerable groups) and prevents and mitigates risks. Ensure that organisation-level issues are also identified as part of the process, as they have the potential to impact groups and large numbers of workers.
- consult the workforce about policies and procedures on mental health to ensure they are involved and encourage buy-in and ownership.
- provide mental health-related training for managers and workers.
- harness the knowledge and expertise of OSH professionals in developing prevention-focused techniques.
- reduce the stigma around mental health, encouraging open conversations about mental health while providing support. Utilise the HSE Working Minds campaign.18
- have person-centred approaches in place to ensure good working conditions, effective people management and routine check-ins on employee health and wellbeing.