Bupa launches online mental health guide

According to Bupa's research, 34 per cent of managers say they would struggle to detect if their colleagues were experiencing a mental health issue. 

In order to improve that figure, the healthcare group have launched a free online guide to support managers in promoting a good mental health in the workplace, with their 3 step programme.

Bupa Mental Health says, 'We know it’s important for your employees to be healthy in body and mind. That’s why we’ve developed our Healthy Minds service, so your employees know where to go in confidence to talk through their worries and concerns with a trained counsellor or access online information and self-help tools.'

The guide provides tips and advice on identifying and supporting someone experiencing mental health issues:

Common signs to look out for:

• frequent absences
• behaviour that’s unusual or out of character
• overly defensive attitude
• increase in tension between colleagues
• a drop in individual performance
• complaints about performance or behaviour

Points to consider when speaking to an employee you may be concerned about:

• have the conversation somewhere private 
• avoid being too formal 
• keep your body language open and relaxed
• ask the question – start off simply asking how they’re doing, then tell them you’ve noticed they don’t seem themselves, making sure they know you’re there to support
• ask them if they want to talk it through with you – if they say no, you could give them information about the confidential Healthy Minds line – remind them that you are there to support them if they need it

By Orianna Rosa Royle, Digital Assistant at The Marketing Society.