DECEMBER 2019HR TECH OUTLOOK8Jonny Jacobs CA, Head of Finance, M&S Foods, Marks and Spencer [LON: MKS]ByApproximately one in four people in the UK experience mental health problems each year. It is an immense societal issue. Yet, there's still perceived stigma around the topic and the language that is used when discussing it. We know that the only way to break down the stigma is by talking about it. Raising awareness and normalising conversations around mental health encourages that shift in perspective, which can help people engage with their own mental health and wellbeing as well as better understand others.The cost of failing to engage people hits public social care and negatively impacts businesses. Due to this, the government has taken a keen interest. Chancellor Philip Hammond earmarked an extra £2bn in the last budget to boost mental health services in the NHS, but that only scratches the surface. Before that, Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Lord Stevenson to conduct a review, where it was found that employers lose at least £33bn annually to issues caused by mental health. One of the last things May did at the end of her premiership was promoting mental health.Addressing the challenge An estimated one in three UK sick notes are attributed to a mental health issue, costing employers millions of pounds and contributes to a huge drop in productivity. At the heart of every business are people and those people need to perform. So how do you support them to be their best and perform to their best? Supporting and protecting colleagues, in both challenging times and more widely, is key to giving our best and engaging in the success of an organisation. In addition to frequent absences, an employee suffering from a mental health issue is said to be at least half as productive and over twice as likely to get into conflicts at work, and therefore, can cause damaging and unproductive presenters. The effect on financial professionalsWhilst mental health does not discriminate by demographic or role, it is widely acknowledged that, certain professions come with individual pressures and high levels of stress. In MyOpinionROBUST HEALTH STRATEGY FOR BETTER BUSINESSJonny Jacobs CA
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