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Open Up
Healthy Minds.
Healthy Business.

Mental wellbeing affects us every day. Especially at work, but we don’t often make it a priority or understand the connection with our physical health, which needs to change.

Did you know people with a long-term physical condition are two to three times more likely to develop a mental health problem?1

That’s why we want to share our commitment. It’s time we all opened up and made mental health a normal topic of conversation in the workplace. Listen to our business leaders share their experiences for a heads up on mental wellbeing so you can get the conversation started with your team.

Read the full story >

Mental health issues like stress, anxiety and depression are common

 

Only half of people who struggle with mental health issues speak to their managers about it.2

still consider mental health to be a taboo subject in the workplace.3

employees think that they are better off suffering in silence.3

Mental ill health is now the primary cause of long-term sickness absence for one in five UK organisations.4

We believe being open about mental wellbeing in the workplace is crucial. Everyone has an individual mental wellbeing story and we want our teams to feel that they can share theirs. Here are some of our employees sharing theirs – together we can break the silence.

Encouraging your employees to talk about their mental health might feel tricky at first, but creating an open and honest atmosphere will help your employees to feel comfortable to #OpenUp.

#OpenUp

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Mental health at work: a heads up from Richard.
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Mental health at work: the power of open conversations
#OpenUp
#OpenUp

Open up: Josh’s story of mental health at work.

#OpenUp
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Open up: Mani’s story of mental health at work
#OpenUp
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Open up: Rachel’s story of mental health at work
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    “A huge part of my recovery is owed to my manager and my colleagues. At first I wasn’t sure if I should be open with them but in hindsight I shouldn’t have worried. The support was incredible.”

    Joshua’s story

    How are we encouraging our teams to #OpenUp?

      

    1. Education

    Our online learning and development area is home to information around the signs of mental health issues, suicide awareness and the top five mental health problems that affect colleagues.

    2. Conversation

    We run company-wide campaigns that encourage employees to freely express their feelings and speak openly about mental health.

    3. Training

    • Mental health first aid
    • Line managers guide
    • Performance energy training

    4. Support and treatment

    • 24/7 telephone counselling
    • Online cognitive behavioural therapy
    • Face-to-face counselling

    Want advice on talking about mental wellbeing with your team? Take a look over our guide for managers.

     Learn more (PDF, 1.5MB)

    Discover more information about workplace mental wellbeing

    Learn more >

    The most extensive small business mental health insurance†

    We’ve opened up our cover to help more people get the support they need. It’s call the Business Mental Health Advantage


    Learn more

    †As of May 2021, this analysis is based on an internally conducted review of the SME health insurance markets using publicly available information from the major insurers in the UK consumer health insurance market. Combined, Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva and Vitality hold approximately 90% of the Gross Written Premium income of UK PMI providers. Refers to standard mental health cover when this is included in the selected health insurance or health trust product. We acknowledge that schemes can have bespoke benefits.

    See PDF How we compare: Small business (PDF 1MB)

    Listen to our podcasts today

    Supporting your colleagues with their mental health

    Listen to our conversation with Dr Bill Mitchell about the most important factors to remember around how to support a colleague who may be struggling with their mental health.

    Listen now

    What it means to be a mental health first aider

    Discover how our employees have become mental health first aiders and what the training involves.

    Listen now

    Supporting your team’s mental health: 10 tips for managers

    One in six of your team members are likely to be affected by a mental health problem at any given time.6 So as their line manager, how can you tell which of your staff might be in need of your support?

    Each of us has a responsibility for looking after our own mental health, but managers can make a big difference by being aware of how their team might be feeling, and looking out for signs that someone might benefit from assistance.

      1. Hold regular catch-ups

      Meeting regularly with your staff helps you to get to know one another better. This puts you in a good position to spot changes in their behaviour that may indicate that they’re struggling with their mental health. It also gives your staff a chance to get to know you more closely, which may make them more comfortable about reaching out to you if a time comes when they need support.

      2. Learn more about mental health

      Strive to learn more about mental health. There are a range of conditions that people may experience. Reading up will help you to understand some of the potential signs of a mental health problem, and allow you to approach conversations about mental health more confidently.

      3. Know the broad signs

      There’s not always a simple way to know that someone is experiencing poor mental health. Each mental health condition has a different set of potential symptoms, which can also vary from person to person. However, on a broader level, there are some general indicators that you can look out for. These include:

      • poor concentration
      • being easily distracted
      • worrying more
      • finding it hard to make decisions
      • feeling less interested in day-to-day activities
      • low mood
      • feeling overwhelmed by things
      • tearfulness
      • tiredness and lack of energy
      • talking less and avoiding social activities
      • talking more or talking very fast, jumping between topics and ideas
      • finding it difficult to control emotions
      • drinking more
      • irritability and short temper
      • aggression

      4. Don’t make assumptions

      Even when you understand some of the signs of poor mental health, this doesn’t mean you should make assumptions about what mental health problems your employees may have. Instead, use this knowledge as a way of noticing when you should check in and start a conversation about how your employee is coping right now. Let them lead the conversation and tell you more about how they feel, rather than making guesses or jumping to any conclusions.

      5. Create an open culture

      As a manager, you can work to create an environment where people feel like they can be open about problems they’re facing. This can help people feel able to tell you about difficulties they’re facing much earlier, before they reach a crisis situation. Be approachable and make it clear that you’re ready to meet with your team whenever they need you. Facilitating a fair and welcoming culture – for example, where there’s no place at all for bullying – is also really important for team morale and mental health.

      6. Be aware of workplace triggers

      Work can play a positive role in supporting good mental health, for example by helping people to feel fulfilled and valued, and providing a stable routine. But it can also trigger mental ill health by putting too much pressure on people.

      Be aware of aspects of your workplace that may be putting undue stress on your team, for example:

      • long hours
      • unmanageable workloads
      • lack of control over work tasks
      • difficult relationships with colleagues

      When you’re trying to understand how your staff might be feeling, keep in mind whether they are facing any of these difficulties. If they are, they may be at risk of becoming stressed and having poorer mental health as a result.

      7. Promote and improve the support your organisation provides

      If people know that their employer provides mental health support, they may be more likely to open up about any problems and access help sooner. So make sure that your team know about any support available to them. This could include an employee assistance programme (EAP) if your organisation has one, or access to counselling. If no support is available, now is the time to introduce it.

      8. Lead by example

      Some of your team members might be afraid to speak up about their mental health problems in fear that it may be seen as a sign of weakness or failure. You can set an example for those around you. By colleagues in more senior positions sharing their own experiences of mental health, it can signal to others that it’s OK to be human. By showing that you understand, you may make it easier for them to ask for help and give them the courage to speak up.

      9. Invest in training

      Early intervention can play an important role in helping someone with a mental health problem in their recovery. So by teaching yourself and other managers how to spot the signs of mental health problems and how to help, you can help employees to get the help they need as soon as possible. Only around one in every four managers currently receive mental health training.7 So why not get ahead of the curve and arrange training for you and your fellow managers? This is offered by mental health organisations, including Mind.

      10. Look after your own mental health

      It’s crucial to look after your own mental health. Doing so will put you in a better position to offer support to others. Be aware of how you feel, especially at times when you have a heavy workload, and take steps to stay healthy. That might include eating well, exercising, and generally making time to relax and do things you enjoy outside of work.

      Having a conversation with a colleague who might be struggling

      Stress, depression and anxiety are responsible for about 14 million days of sick leave each year in the UK. And this just goes to show how common mental health problems are in the workplace. All of us can make a difference by looking out for our colleagues, and being there for them if they seem to be having a hard time.

      Read more
      Download Managers Guide (PDF, 1.5MB)

      Cover for your team’s mind and body

       

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      References

      ^ Lines are open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm. We may record or monitor our calls.

      Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ.

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