Some 55 per cent of companies think more employees are suffering from conditions, a survey by risk management firm Aon has revealed.
“Mental health statistics continue to demand action from employers,” said Aon Employee Benefits principal Mark Witte.
“We know that one in four working days are lost to the issue. This represents a third of long-term absence cases and now this latest headline figure from our own survey suggests a robust mental health strategy should be at the forefront of the HR and business agenda.”
The survey also showed fewer employers think they can do something to help staff with mental health illnesses, City AM reports.
In 2015, nearly three-quarters of firms felt they had a key role to playing helping people. In 2016 this proportion fell to two-thirds.
Witte added: “Designing an effective strategy can represent a daunting and complex task for some as there can be many underlying influences contributing to the overall picture.”
Flexible working and wellness programmes were the most popular ways businesses tackled mental illness and stress in the workplace.
And although there is raft of data being collected by employers, Witte questioned whether it is being put to best use.
“Having a good understanding of health risks will enable employers to make informed decisions and take positive action that will have a real impact on future cost projections,” said Witte.
