Commissioned by the Prime Minister, the Stevenson/Farmer review highlights that more people leave work due to mental health problems than physical health problems. This comes at a significant cost to the economy, with an estimated £74 - £99 billion being lost per year due to poor mental health.
In order to overcome these issues, a number of 'mental health core standards' are set out in the report, which aim to provide a framework of actions to be implemented by companies across the country. These core standards include actions such as:
There are also a number of additional 'enhanced' standards which are outlined for those employers who are in a position to provide increased levels of support.
The review contains a useful breakdown of how the mental health core standards could be achieved on a practical level. If you are considering what actions can be taken in the workplace to improve mental health, the report provides a useful starting point.