New guide to help you support a colleague in crisis

18 February 2009

Most of us have more contact with people at work than anywhere else. We can offer valuable support to one another in times of crisis or upset but many don’t know what to say, so we say nothing.
 
What works for you?, from the Mental Health Foundation, is a new guide which gives practical advice about how to help a colleague who is having a tough time. Normal life events such as losing somebody close or a serious physical illness can result in mental distress.

The guide provides information on common signs or symptoms of mental health problems, advice on how to listen effectively and on how to respond. Finding out about a colleague’s problem can be stressful and even upsetting, especially if we don’t understand or know how to help.

Advice for managers and small business owners

It can be difficult for managers and owners of small businesses to know how to work with someone they think has a mental health problem. The guide includes specific advice such as how to deal with an employee’s workload, sick leave and return to work arrangements. It also provides useful legal information.

Natalie Higgs, Head of Human Resources at the Mental Health Foundation said:

“Mental health problems can affect anyone and research shows that having colleagues around who are able to provide support can be a real help.

In this time of economic instability some people are going to be feeling more stressed at work due to heavier workloads or worrying about redundancy. We hope this guide will help colleagues and managers to look out for one another in the workplace.”

How the idea for the guide began

In 2007, Kay Laurie lost her partner Peter (aged 57) when he took his own life. Peter had experienced recurrent depression for a number of years. A civil engineer, he had retired two years earlier. Making plans for the funeral, Kay and Peter’s friends and family decided to ask for donations, rather than flowers. With the money Kay wanted to do something that would help others. Just over a year later, with guidance from the Mental Health Foundation, a guide on how people at work can help colleagues through tough times has been published.

Kay Laurie said:

“Finding a way of carrying on with your job when life gets tough is important and we can all help each other. I had wonderful, sensitive support from the people I work with after Peter died and that really helped me. I hope that organisations and unions will help make the guide available in workplaces across the country.”

For a free copy of What works for you? telephone the Mental Health Foundation on 020 7803 1101 or download it from www.mentalhealth.org.uk (there is a small charge for bulk orders).

Facts

• 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year.

• A survey of people with mental health problems found that only one third would feel confident disclosing their experience of mental ill-health on job application forms.

• One in three believed that bullying at work had caused or added to their mental health problems.

• Two out of three believed that unrealistic workload and long hours had caused or worsened their mental health problems.

• However, over half of those who had been open about their mental health problems in the workplace always or often had support when they needed it.
  

• Two-thirds reported that people at work were always or often very accepting.

ENDS

Editor’s Notes

For more information please contact the Mental Health Foundation press office on 020 7803 1130/1128.

The Mental Health Foundation (www.mentalhealth.org.uk) uses research and practical projects to help people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems. We work to influence policy, including government at the highest levels. And we use our knowledge to raise awareness and to help tackle the stigma attached to mental illness. We reach millions of people every year through our media work, information booklets and online services.