What Is Workplace Mental Health?

Many people suffer work-related stress which can lead to, or aggravate existing, mental health problems. It has been estimated that up to a quarter of workers suffer from workplace mental health problems at some point during their working lives. While mental health problems are common, they tend to be mild, short term and can usually be successfully treated through counselling or the prescription of suitable medications by a GP.

Mental health, in very general terms, influences the way that people think, feel and behave in certain circumstances. Anxiety and depression, for example, are the most common mental health problems that people will experience at some point in their lives. They are often a response to difficult life events, such as a death in the family, but can also be caused by work-related stresses. Employers have become more aware of the impact that this can have on employees and provide counselling and other services to their staff to help them deal with mental health problems.