What does a mentally healthy workplace look like?

According to World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on mental health at work, a healthy workplace can be described as one where workers and managers actively contribute to the working environment by promoting and protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of all employees. In its online guidance on mental health in the workplace, it points to academic research suggesting interventions should take a three-pronged approach:

• protect mental health by reducing work-related risk factors;

• promote mental health by developing the positive aspects of work and the strengths of employees; and

• address mental health problems regardless of cause.

Unite says reps should ensure that:

• work is designed to fit the worker, and not the worker to the job;

• mental health issues are dealt with appropriately; and

• stress management is undertaken with full participation within a workplace culture which encourages the raising of concerns without fear of ridicule or victimisation.

The National Education Union (NEU) has produced a guide for schools — Stress risk assessment: a step-by-step guide for school management. This says that school staff are unlikely to suffer from work-related stress if they:

• can cope with the demands of their job;

• understand their role;

• have a say in how they work;

• feel supported by management; and

• have positive working relationships, including in times of change.

These factors should be considered in relation to the whole school rather than individuals.