New report shows lacking mental wellbeing support for NHS staff

NHS employers need to do more to look after the mental health and wellbeing of their staff, according to a new report.

Analysis from the Health and Work Development Unit (HWDU) at the Royal College of Physicians has revealed that only 57 percent of NHS trusts have a mental wellbeing policy in place to support staff.

Although board-level awareness of staff health and wellbeing tended to be fairly high, 24 percent do not monitor their staff's mental wellbeing at all, despite mental health being the second leading cause cited for long-term sickness absence among the NHS workforce.

The report urged NHS employers to familiarise themselves with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on workplace health and wellbeing practices.

Dr Sian Williams, clinical director at the HWDU, said: "There is room for improvement to ensure that organisations are providing the best support for their staff."

This comes at a time when the Department of Health is making a concerted effort to raise the profile of mental health issues across the entire NHS.