LRD guides and handbook May 2021

Covid and mental health - a guide for union reps

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Introduction

Introduction [pages 3-5] (1,123 words)

Covid-19 is a new virus and its long-term impact is not yet known, but in a short time its impact has been enormous, fundamentally changing how we ...
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Chapter 1

1. How Covid-19 has worsened a
work-related mental health crisis [ch 1: pages 6-7] (528 words)

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact in the UK, killing more than 150,000 people. It has also severely impacted on people’s mental as ...
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Important contributory factors [ch 1: page 7] (167 words)

Burnout [ch 1: page 7] (176 words)

Poor terms and conditions [ch 1: page 8] (264 words)

Customer abuse [ch 1: pages 8-9] (280 words)

Uncertainty about safety [ch 1: page 9] (200 words)

Higher workloads [ch 1: page 9] (157 words)

Isolation [ch 1: page 10] (498 words)

Disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on certain groups [ch 1: page 11] (211 words)

Women workers [ch 1: page 11] (820 words)

Disabled workers and older people [ch 1: page 13] (205 words)

LGBT+ workers [ch 1: pages 13-14] (125 words)

Young workers [ch 1: page 14] (250 words)

The impact of Covid infection and long Covid on mental health [ch 1: pages 14-15] (201 words)

Chapter 2

2. Recognising stress and poor mental health [ch 2: page 15] (35 words)

This Chapter provides guidance on how to identify stress and poor mental health in the workforce and how these have been exacerbated by Covid-19. ...
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What is stress? [ch 2: page 15] (317 words)

What is poor mental health? [ch 2: page 16] (159 words)

Avoiding unhelpful labels [ch 2: page 16] (167 words)

Impact of work-related stress on health [ch 2: pages 16-17] (231 words)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) [ch 2: page 17] (132 words)

Work-related suicide and Covid [ch 2: pages 17-18] (415 words)

Chapter 3

3. Making the business case for taking action [ch 3: page 19] (171 words)

In Tackling work-related stress using the Management Standards approach — A step-by-step workbook, the Health and Safety Executive sets out that ...
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The costs of inaction [ch 3: page 19] (144 words)

Presenteeism and leavism [ch 3: pages 19-20] (134 words)

HSE Stress Management Standards [ch 3: page 20] (225 words)

How Covid has changed key areas of work [ch 3: pages 20-21] (369 words)

Chapter 4

4. How to protect workers’ mental health [ch 4: page 22] (106 words)

This Chapter focuses on how workplace union reps can ensure employers take action to prevent or reduce the impact of Covid on workers’ mental ...
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Health and Safety Law [ch 4: page 22] (163 words)

Risk assessments [ch 4: pages 22-23] (498 words)

Protecting university staff [ch 4: pages 23-24] (329 words)

Protecting privacy [ch 4: pages 24-25] (157 words)

Campaign for a mental health at work act [ch 4: page 25] (121 words)

Using safety reps’ powers [ch 4: page 25] (180 words)

Union guidance and action [ch 4: page 25] (38 words)

Applying the HSE Stress Management Standards [ch 4: page 26] (405 words)

Enforcing the Management Standards [ch 4: pages 26-27] (285 words)

Resisting "resilience" [ch 4: pages 27-28] (441 words)

Homeworking [ch 4: pages 28-29] (403 words)

Mental health checklist for homeworkers [ch 4: pages 29-30] (495 words)

Remote monitoring [ch 4: page 31] (167 words)

Ensuring a safe transition back to work [ch 4: pages 31-32] (388 words)

Support to stay at home [ch 4: pages 32-33] (372 words)

Coming into work for mental health reasons [ch 4: page 33] (298 words)

Providing support for trainees [ch 4: page 34] (79 words)

Tackling excessive workloads [ch 4: pages 34-36] (828 words)

Using negotiation and consultation rights [ch 4: pages 36-37] (379 words)

Minimising the psychological impact of Covid-19 [ch 4: pages 37-38] (445 words)

Establishing an industry standard [ch 4: page 38] (115 words)

Chapter 5

5. Support for workers with Covid-related mental health problems [ch 5: page 39] (52 words)

As well as preventing or reducing Covid-related mental ill health among workers, unions are also working hard to ensure that those who develop mental ...
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How can equality law help? [ch 5: pages 39-40] (462 words)

Reasonable adjustments [ch 5: page 40] (236 words)

Reasonable adjustment passports [ch 5: page 41] (90 words)

Sickness absence policies [ch 5: page 41] (313 words)

Awareness raising [ch 5: page 42] (409 words)

Mental health first aiders [ch 5: pages 43-44] (499 words)

Union training for mental health champions [ch 5: page 44] (82 words)

Dealing with crisis situations [ch 5: pages 44-45] (365 words)

Specialist support [ch 5: pages 45-46] (564 words)

Access to work [ch 5: page 46] (92 words)

Chapter 6

6. Negotiating a mental health policy [ch 6: pages 47-49] (830 words)

Wales TUC says that one of the steps employers can take to support employees with mental health problems is to develop and implement a workplace ...
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Putting policies into practice [ch 6: pages 49-50] (590 words)

TUC advice on support for bereaved workers [ch 6: pages 50-51] (277 words)

Chapter 7

7. What does a safe and mentally healthy workplace look like? [ch 7: pages 52-53] (340 words)

Janet Newsham, chair of the Hazards Campaign for justice and safety at work, has set out a three-pronged approach to preventing mental health harm. ...
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Decent pay and conditions [ch 7: page 53] (423 words)

Further information

8. Further sources of advice and support (473 words)

NHS information and support for mental health includes advice on urgent help and accessing an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT) and can be ...
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