Learning from the Experts

The Business Case for Workplace Wellbeing

Derby (UK), March 2020 - Leading mental health charity Mind will promote better workplace wellbeing through distributing mental health awareness courses in partnership with learning consultancy and course designers Walkgrove. More than seven in ten employees (71%) have experienced mental health problems in their lives, whilst over one in two (53%) employees are affected by poor mental health in their current workplace.

However, most employees feel uncomfortable talking about mental health at work. Mind’s courses respond to business calls for more guidance, offering practical advice about how to boost workplace wellbeing. 

Award-winning learning consultancy Walkgrove has been chosen by Mind as exclusive distributor of their mental health awareness eLearning courses.

Mind regularly surveys thousands of employees as part of their Workplace Wellbeing Index – a benchmark of best policy and practice when it comes to how employers are promoting staff mental health. Mind’s latest research, with around 44,000 staff taking part in the survey, found that only around half of employees (45%) felt their manager would be able to spot if they were having problems with their mental health. If managers aren’t aware that there is a problem, they may not put in place the extra support employees may need to be able to thrive in their roles - and things can get worse.

Walkgrove was commissioned by Mind to design two introductory-level eLearning modules that would improve understanding of workplace mental health issues within organisations of all sizes and sectors. The training courses develop employees’ skills in looking after their own wellbeing and offer line managers simple but effective tools to support their teams.

After receiving encouraging feedback from the initial training roll-out, Mind selected Walkgrove to help promote their mental health awareness eLearning more widely.

Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, said, "We know that many staff regularly experience issues like stress, anxiety, and depression, so it’s really important that employers take steps to address the work-related causes of these problems. Thankfully, there are lots of small, inexpensive measures employers can put in place that make a huge difference to staff wellbeing. Training and interventions save money in the long run through increased productivity and decreased sickness absence. Mind’s cost-effective eLearning courses provide practical actions that can help workplaces promote good mental health for all employees, including those experiencing mental health problems."

Walkgrove Managing Director, Sarah Smith, said, "We are proud to work in partnership with Mind to support better mental health. The awareness courses provide the perfect opportunity for organisations to demonstrate their commitment to employee wellbeing through delivering consistent and positive messages about mental health from a credible and trusted source."