Mental health and wellbeing at work 

Have systems in place to help you prioritise the mental health of employees. This will help you understand any issues you need to address. This can include: 

• Asking employees how they feel by using surveys, focus groups and one to one conversations with managers 

• Keeping track of the reasons why employees are absent from work. This can help you to understand if workplace stress is a factor.

• Using what you learn to put a workplace mental health plan in place and check your progress 

Working with employees to put a mental health plan in place can be good way to manage and improve mental health at work. Your plan can include: 

• Appointing a senior leader to champion initiatives within your organisation

• Reviewing your workplace policies and adding steps to promote good mental health and wellbeing. This could include policies on flexible working, absence management and bullying and harassment.

• Creating a task group with representatives from across your organisation to discuss improving mental health and wellbeing in the workplace

• Using the Health and Safety Executive’s Stress Management Standards to develop a plan to reduce stress in the workplace

Making work a positive and supportive place can help employees feel supported and comfortable. This can also help employees to talk about mental health without fear or shame. 

Promoting a positive and supportive workplace culture can include: 

• Training managers to advocate for and support mental wellbeing 

• Appointing mental health and well-being champions and giving them time to fulfil this role 

• Ensuring fair workloads and regular check-ins with employees to prevent stress and burnout 

• Encouraging senior leaders and managers to be open about their own mental health 

• Sharing news about mental health support through your staff communications channels 

• Having open conversations about mental health through one-to-ones or team meetings

Using your staff communication channels can be a good way to share information and promote resources that can improve mental health and wellbeing. 

• Hapus: A National Conversation about Mental Wellbeing has information about a range of mental wellbeing promoting activities across Wales 

• The Mental Health Foundation offers tools and advice to help people and organisations prioritise mental health 

• Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) – provide confidential counselling and support services

• There are many awareness campaigns, like Mental Health Awareness Week, that you can promote in your workplace. Visit our Campaigns and Events section to find out more.