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How to support a colleague who is experiencing low mental health

Here you’ll find information and links to specialist resources that can help employers and managers to support a colleague who is experiencing low mental health.

If you are an employer or manager who is concerned that a colleague might be experiencing low mental health, it’s important for you to know how to handle the situation appropriately and, where necessary, to offer support.

Start a conversation

If you think you have recognised signs of low mental wellbeing in a colleague, then you may need to start a conversation with the person to find out more. You could use the opportunity of a regular one-to-one catch up or a return-to-work meeting following a period of absence and begin simply by asking, ‘how are you?’.

  • Choose a suitable location

Hold your conversation somewhere that’s private, quiet and where your colleague is more likely to feel relaxed.

  • Maintain confidentiality

Remember that information related to a colleague’s mental health is confidential and sensitive.

  • Don’t assume

Your colleague may not be struggling, might feel they can manage without your support or might not feel that they are able to discuss the matter with you.

  • Encourage open dialogue

Provide space for your colleague to explain their situation in their own words and in their own time.

  • Offer reassurance

Remind your colleague that you’re there to help and support as and when required.

Promote wellbeing in the workplace

Fostering a workplace culture that’s supportive and open to discussing mental health will make such conversations easier to hold. If you are routinely asking your colleagues how they are, both physically and mentally, then you’ll build their confidence and make it easier for them to approach you for support.

You can learn more here about ways to promote wellbeing in the workplace.

What comes next?

Develop a plan of action

If you do have a colleague who is experiencing low mental wellbeing, the next step could be to develop a plan of action. Identify any work-related situations or issues that might be impacting their wellbeing and ascertain whether there’s anything that could be done to help alleviate them. Agree any changes with your colleague and plan to check in later to review their effectiveness.

Reasonable adjustments

Employers are required by the Equality Act 2010 to provide reasonable adjustments to people with disabilities, including mental health conditions. Practical examples of reasonable adjustments include flexible working patterns, such as changes to start and finish times, provisioning for home working, providing quiet working spaces, excusing employees from larger meetings and offering additional supervision or support.

Encourage your colleague to seek help

If they have not already done so, you should encourage your colleague to seek appropriate advice and support, such as making an appointment to speak to their GP. Your organisation might also have its own employee assistance programme with resources such as counselling.

(Please remember that this information is only a guide and that your own organisation may have its own HR advice or policies in place to assist you in similar situations.)

Specialist information and resources

Below you'll find links to a range of specialist resources and further information to help you get it right.

Mind

  • How to support staff who are experiencing a mental health problem

Mental Health Foundation

  • How to support mental health at work
  • How to support someone with a mental health problem

NHS

  • Helping others with mental health problems

NHS (England)

  • Information and support for your mental health

NHS inform (Scotland)

  • Resources for identifying, treating and managing mental health problems and disorders

Acas

  • Approaching a sensitive conversation regarding mental ill health
  • Managing staff experiencing mental ill health

SAMH

  • A guide to making reasonable adjustments at work for people with mental health problems

Rethink Mental Illness

  • Reasonable adjustments at work

How to tell if a colleague might be experiencing low mental wellbeing

Information to help managers and employers recognise the signs of low mental health.

How to support wellbeing in the workplace

Information to help managers and employers support wellbeing in the workplace.

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