Workbook on mental health and workplace
Mental health and the workplace is an increasingly important issue for unions.
With the impact of austerity contributing to ever increasing levels of workplace stress, there has been an increase in the prevalence of mental ill health. In response, unions have often taken the lead both in securing the best outcomes for individual members with mental health issues, and in working with employers to develop “mentally healthy” workplaces.
Recently the education arm of the TUC has published a second edition of Mental health and the workplace. The workbook has been updated to keep pace with the changing world of work.
The workbook is for all workplace reps and helps to explain what they can do to support those in the workplace with mental health problems.
There’s a section on “knowledge”, covering mental health problems, the role of union reps and metal health and the law to mention just some of the topics.
A second section — “representing and supporting members” — covers issues such as stress and health and safety, sickness absence, and grievance and disciplinaries.
The final section covers organising around mental health, with campaigning, supporting workers with mental health issues and preventing stress.