Government joins with employers on mental health

The Department of Health reports that the government has been in discussions with business leaders regarding dealing with issues relating to mental health in the workplace.

Talks were held at an event organised by the department and the East London Business Alliance, with the government seeking opinions from employers regarding a national plan to challenge the discrimination relating to mental illness currently existing in the workplace.

Rosie Winterton, health minister, said: “We’ve seen much progress in recent decades in tackling discrimination at work in areas such as gender and race.

“But the issue of mental ill health in some workplaces still remains shrouded in secrecy, fear and ignorance.”

She added that currently workers developing mental health problems may not be adequately supported at work and urged employers to raise awareness of mental problems that can arise and fight discrimination in the workplaces.

A number of companies were represented at this conference, including BT, Tate & Lyle and the Royal Mail.

Last week, the government reported that businesses in the West Midlands lose an estimated ?556 million as a result of issues relating to ill mental health in the workplace each year and urged companies to adopt its Action on Stigma principles to assist workers.