Today the Office for National Statistics releases their annual report on personal wellbeing in the UK, their most in depth study on the subject to date looking back at 12 months of data between January and December 2017.

According to the ONS report – entitled ‘Personal well-being in the UK’, anxiety levels have improved year on year in the UK between 2011 and 2015 but have stagnated since the 2015 report, with the number of people reporting ‘high’ levels of anxiety between January and December 2017 experiencing a marginal increase when compared to the same period in 2016.

Overall general personal perceptions of life satisfaction, worthwhile and happiness have increased which suggests that the heightened awareness around wellbeing and the mechanisms put in place to support it are working well. The slowing of progress since 2015 shows the importance of continuing to educate people on the issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing, particularly in the workplace where people are spending more time than ever before and where anxiety traditionally tends to manifest.

With workplace-related stress, illnesses and mental health issues becoming a bigger concern than ever, is it time for employers to be taking the burden? It’s clear to see that employers must start to take more responsibility for the mental health and wellbeing of their staff,  Richard Holmes, Director of Wellbeing at Westfield Health, gives his top tips on how to be an approachable line manager and in turn, support your team’s mental health:

 

Understand strengths and weaknesses

“As a line manager, it’s important to acknowledge that everyone is an individual and therefore has different strengths and weaknesses – both mentally and physically. Therefore, using a bespoke, personalised approach is key. Everybody reacts differently to pressure, so to treat everyone the same can be extremely harmful to an individual’s performance.”

Don’t be overly formal

“Having regular check-ins with your colleague is a big part of a line manager’s role. However, in order to be approachable in a day-to-day situation, it’s important to hold casual meetings as well as formal one-to-ones. Try going for a coffee or taking them for lunch as a treat – which may help to make your colleague feel more comfortable and relaxed around you.“

Get moving

“By now, most people will have heard of walking meetings. But how effective are they? Studies show high amounts of sitting is linked to psychological distress***. Similarly, among overweight/obese adults, decreasing sedentary time and increasing moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity were associated with a reduced risk of depression. So, to help decrease the risk of depression and poor mental health – suggest having a walking catch up every now and again.”

Follow up on actions

“Once you have had a one-to-one with a colleague, it’s your responsibility to ensure relevant actions are taken. Colleagues will lose trust in you as a line manager and would be less likely to open up to you in the future if they feel action is not being taken in a timely way – keep your colleagues updated with the status of each action and let them know it is being dealt with.”

Don’t claim to be an expert 

“As a line manager, you aren’t expected to be a counsellor. Giving out incorrect advice is just as bad as not giving it. If you don’t feel confident in providing advice, then it’s much better to share any issues with the most appropriate person – always at your colleague’s discretion.”

For more information about workplace health and wellbeing, please call 03331 227343 or visit www.westfieldhealth.com