Mental health training for line managers is strongly linked to better business performance, and could save companies millions of pounds in lost sick days every year, a report has found.
Research conducted by experts at Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Nottingham found poor employee mental health is costing companies more than £50 billion annually.
The study, which is funded as part of an £11 million investment by the Economic and Social Research Council, seeks to show employers how to improve the mental health of their employees as well as boosting productivity for their business.
Researchers analysed survey data from thousands of companies, including questions about a company’s mental-health practices, including whether or not they offered training to line managers. The research was statistically controlled for age, sector and size of the companies.
Dr Juliet Hassard from Queen’s said: “To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that training line managers in mental health is linked to better business outcomes. This is an important finding that strengthens the business case for why employers should invest in mental health at work.”
Professor Holly Blake from the University of Nottingham said: “Encouraging employers to invest in employee mental health can be challenging. Knowing that improving line managers’ knowledge, skills and confidence in managing mental health at work is linked to better business outcomes will help to highlight the strategic value of this approach to employers.”
The researchers have outlined the need for further research in this area.