World Mental Health Day: Supporting mental health in the workplace
World Mental Health Day takes place on 10 October each year, providing an opportunity to raise awareness, challenge stigma and encourage people to prioritise their mental health.
For employers, it is also an important opportunity to consider how mental health is supported within the workplace.
Work can have a significant impact on our overall wellbeing. A positive working environment can provide purpose, connection and a sense of belonging, while excessive workloads, workplace stress and poor work-life balance can negatively affect mental health.
Creating a workplace where employees feel supported, valued and comfortable talking about their mental health should be an important part of any workplace wellbeing strategy.
What is World Mental Health Day?
World Mental Health Day takes place every year on 10 October.
The day is an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues, encourage conversations and help reduce the stigma that can prevent people from seeking support.
It also provides an opportunity for organisations to think about the mental health and wellbeing of their employees.
For businesses, World Mental Health Day does not need to be limited to a single awareness campaign. It can be a starting point for creating longer term improvements in workplace mental health.
Why is mental health important in the workplace?
Mental health is an important part of employee wellbeing.
Employees may experience stress, anxiety, low mood or other mental health challenges for many different reasons. These can be connected to work, personal circumstances or a combination of factors.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, work related stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 40.0 million working days lost in Great Britain in 2024/25. The same data shows that work related stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 52% of all work related ill health cases.
These figures demonstrate why mental health at work should be considered as part of an organisation’s wider approach to employee health and wellbeing.
What can employers do to support mental health?
There is no single solution to workplace mental health.
Effective support usually combines good management, healthy working practices, appropriate policies and access to wellbeing resources.
Here are some practical ways employers can support their teams.
- Create a culture where people can talk
One of the most important steps an organisation can take is to make conversations about mental health feel normal.
Employees may worry about being judged or believe that discussing mental health could negatively affect their career.
Encouraging open conversations and demonstrating that wellbeing is taken seriously can help reduce some of these concerns.
Managers can play an important role by regularly checking in with employees and creating opportunities for honest conversations.
- Train managers and Mental Health First Aiders
Managers do not need to be mental health professionals, but they should have an understanding of how mental health can affect employees and how to respond appropriately.
Mental Health First Aid training can give employees and managers greater awareness and confidence when supporting colleagues.
Training can help participants recognise potential signs that someone may be struggling, listen without judgement and understand how to signpost people towards appropriate professional support.
- Make workplace wellbeing part of everyday life
Mental health support should not only appear during awareness days.
Regular employee wellbeing initiatives can help keep wellbeing visible throughout the year.
These might include:
- Mental health awareness sessions
- Stress management workshops
- Resilience training
- Wellbeing webinars
- Mindfulness sessions
- Yoga
- Workplace massage
- Physical activity initiatives
- Nutrition and healthy lifestyle sessions
Different employees will benefit from different types of support, so offering a range of wellbeing activities can help organisations reach more people.
- Understand workplace stress
Workplace stress is an important part of the mental health conversation.
Employers should consider whether workloads, deadlines, staffing levels, communication, working hours or organisational change could be contributing to excessive pressure.
The Health and Safety Executive recommends that employers assess and manage work related stress using its Management Standards approach, which focuses on areas including demands, control, support, relationships, role and change.
Addressing the causes of workplace stress can be just as important as providing employees with tools to manage stress.
- Encourage healthy boundaries
Technology has made it easier than ever to stay connected to work.
However, employees also need opportunities to switch off and recover.
Organisations can encourage healthy working habits by considering expectations around emails, working hours, breaks and availability outside normal working times.
Managers can lead by example and demonstrate that taking breaks and maintaining a healthy work-life balance are important.
- Make support easy to access
Employees need to know where they can go if they need additional support.
This could include:
- Employee Assistance Programmes
- Occupational health
- Mental Health First Aiders
- HR teams
- Wellbeing platforms
- External mental health organisations
Make sure information is easy to find and communicated regularly.
Support is most useful when employees know it is available before they need it.
Mental health and hybrid working
The way we work has changed significantly, with many organisations now operating hybrid or remote working models.
Flexible working can offer significant benefits, but it can also create challenges for some employees.
People working remotely may have fewer opportunities for informal conversations and social interaction with colleagues.
Employers can support hybrid teams by creating opportunities for connection, ensuring communication remains consistent and making sure remote employees have equal access to workplace wellbeing initiatives.
Virtual wellbeing webinars and online workshops can be particularly useful for geographically dispersed teams.
Why wellbeing activities matter
Mental health support does not always need to be complicated.
Sometimes giving employees dedicated time to pause and focus on themselves can have value.
Workplace massage, mindfulness, yoga and wellbeing workshops can provide employees with an opportunity to step away from their usual responsibilities and focus on their wellbeing.
These initiatives should not replace professional mental health support where it is needed, but they can form part of a broader employee wellbeing strategy.
How Hands On At Work can support your organisation
At Hands On At Work, we provide flexible workplace wellbeing services designed to support employees and complement existing wellbeing strategies.
Our services can help organisations create meaningful opportunities for employees to focus on their physical and mental wellbeing.
Mental Health First Aid Training
Our Mental Health First Aid training helps employees and managers develop greater awareness and confidence around mental health.
It can help participants understand how to recognise potential signs that someone may be struggling, have supportive conversations and signpost colleagues towards appropriate support.
Mental Health Awareness Webinars
Our wellbeing webinars provide accessible information on mental health and wellbeing.
They can be delivered virtually, making them suitable for hybrid and geographically dispersed teams.
Stress Management and Resilience Workshops
Our workshops provide practical strategies that employees can use to understand and manage workplace pressure.
They can help employees develop greater awareness of stress and explore practical approaches to building resilience.
Mindfulness and Yoga
Mindfulness and yoga sessions can give employees dedicated time to pause, reset and focus on their wellbeing.
Sessions can be delivered in person or virtually and can be incorporated into wider workplace wellbeing programmes.
Workplace Massage
Our on site workplace massage service provides employees with an opportunity to step away from their working day and take some time to relax and recharge.
Workplace massage can be delivered as part of a wellbeing day, employee appreciation event, conference or regular wellbeing programme.
World Mental Health Day is just the beginning
World Mental Health Day on 10 October provides an important opportunity to start conversations, but supporting mental health in the workplace should continue throughout the year.
For employers, it is a chance to consider whether employees know where to find support, whether managers feel confident having wellbeing conversations and whether workplace stress is being properly addressed.
Most importantly, it is an opportunity to create a culture where looking after mental health is seen as a normal and important part of working life.
Building a mentally healthier workplace
A healthy workplace is not simply one where employees are productive.
It is one where people feel supported, respected and able to talk when they are struggling.
By combining good management practices with meaningful employee wellbeing initiatives, organisations can take practical steps towards creating a healthier and more supportive working environment.
At Hands On At Work, we can help you develop engaging workplace wellbeing programmes that support your people throughout the year.
Looking to support mental health in your workplace?
Whether you are planning activities for World Mental Health Day or developing a longer term employee wellbeing strategy, our team can help.
Get in touch with Tina or Chantall Hands On At Work can support your organisation: info@handsonatwork.co.uk
