Mind@work March 2023

Mind@work

March 2023

The shape of workplace wellbeing in the UK

Our Workplace Wellbeing Index Survey Results

We produce this report every year to summarise the overall findings of the year’s responses to our Workplace Wellbeing Index.

This year just under 42,000 people took part in the Workplace Wellbeing Index , our benchmark of best policy and practice in workplace wellbeing, from across 119 different organisations spanning the public, private and third sector. This is a huge increase from the 30 organisations who took part in the first ever Index cycle in 2016. We’re inspired to see so many more employers taking workplace wellbeing seriously now.

Key findings from the report

57% of employees said that they have experienced poor mental health while working at their current organisation, but only 49% of respondents have those disclosed this to their employer.
24% feel their workload is unmanageable, with 17% working 50< hours a week.
Opinions are divided on the support given by their organisation, with only 56% of employees feeling their employer makes it possible to speak openly when experiencing mental health problems.

Those in early careers and employees identifying as persons of colour, feel even less comfortable to disclose mental health problems – 14% and 11% respectively – when compared to other employees.
Positive change is gradually happening in some areas, with 31% feeling more or a lot more supported by their organisation than this time last year.

Get in touch if you would like to be involved in this for next year

World Bipolar Day

Thursday 30 March

What does bipolar mean?

The term bipolar refers to the way your mood can change between two very different states – mania and depression. In the past, people used to refer to bipolar disorder as manic depression. But these terms can lead to misunderstanding.

People may think bipolar disorder means only having mood swings between severe mania and depression. But it is much more complex than this. If you have bipolar disorder, you're likely to have times where you experience:

manic or hypomanic episodes, which means feeling highdepressive episodes, which means feeling lowpotentially some psychotic symptoms during manic or depressive episodes.

Ways to support

Self management for bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder can make you feel like you have little control. However, there are lots of things you can do to manage your symptoms and improve your wellbeing.

Learn more

Supporting someone with bipolar disorder

Seeing someone you care about going through the moods and symptoms of bipolar disorder can feel distressing. But you can offer support in lots of ways, while also looking after your own wellbeing.

Learn more

Organising speakers for your staff

How Mind can join the conversation at your workplace

Are you looking for speakers to talk about mental health in your workplace?

With Mental Health Awareness Week soon approaching (May 15 – May 21), we are looking ahead to ways we can help increase employees’ understanding of workplace mental health and how they can support their own wellbeing.

Mind can provide a range of expert speakers to cover these subjects with your teams. Whether you're looking for a lunch and learn, webinar or break out session at a workplace conference, we can deliver speaking engagements on a range of standard or bespoke topics to suit the needs of your event, audience and budget.

Our speaking engagements can be arranged throughout the year, as well as around key calendar dates such as Mental Health Awareness Week.

The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week in 2023 is anxiety.

Up to half of staff admit to feeling anxious on multiple occasions within the last month, with 30% of staff who experience poor mental health sharing that they have taken time off because of it (2022 Index Insights Report).

Employees should feel their organisation supports their mental health and allows them to talk freely when they are experiencing mental health problems. People who work at organisations with a positive wellbeing culture are happier, less anxious and more motivated.

If you are interested in booking a speaker from Mind to talk with your staff, contact us now.

Get in touch

Are you self-employed?

Add your voice to our survey

Are you self-employed? If so, we’d like to hear from you.

When it comes to support around wellbeing at work, people who are self-employed are often overlooked. It can be difficult to prioritise your mental health when you’re running your own business - wellbeing might not always be at the top of the to-do list.

The Mental Health at Work programme curated by Mind, works to ensure all employers and employees – regardless of background, role, sector, or business size – have access to the mental health support that they need. Mental Health at Work recently partnered with Simply Business, one of the UK’s biggest insurance providers for small businesses, to understand, reach, and support the self-employed community.

Together, we are researching the specific challenges and needs that self-employed people face when it comes to their mental health. The results will help shape a new, nation-wide stream of work to help reach, support, and champion this community.

If you are self-employed, we would love to hear from you, by completing our survey about managing your mental health.