Employment and Mental Health

The national survey of Wales 2022-2023 reported that 87% of adults in Wales have  low or medium mental wellbeing, leaving just 13% of adults in Wales with  high mental wellbeing.
The figures show that it is mainly young adults, between 16-24 years, that suffer with low mental wellbeing.

Since the pandemic life satisfaction has also decreased compared to previous years so now that we are 4 years post pandemic, how are employers ensuring mental health and wellbeing is being treated equally to a physical illness or disability and what help is there available for you?

Under the Equality Act 2010 employers must treat physical and mental health equally. Some mental health conditions can be regarded as as a disability if the symptoms are severe this includes depression and anxiety.

Depression and anxiety can be a disability if you feel:-
- Your mental health has a ‘substantial adverse effect’ on your life – this could include inability to focus on long tasks and normal day to day activities (not just your work).
- the symptoms have lasted or are expected to last for more than 12 months.

These symptoms do not need to be all the time or all at once to be considered a disability

Protection in the Workplace

Under The Equality Act 2010 your employer has a ‘duty of care’ to ensure that your work environment is safe and that you are protected from discrimination.
If you are considered to have a disability, because of your mental health, your employer has a duty to make reasonable adjustments. This could include working with you to help prioritise your workload and allowing you more rest breaks if this is beneficial to you.  

How to get support in employment externally

An ‘Access to work grant’ may be  available to help people with a physical or mental health condition or disability to stay in work and receive external support.
This scheme can assist you in many ways with your disability such as: -

• A grant to help pay for practical support with your work such as equipment e.g. noise cancelling headphones, cost of travelling if you cannot use public transport etc.

• Support with managing your mental health at work such as one-to-one with a mental health professional etc.
• Money to pay for communication support at job interviews
  
  Your workplace can include your home if you work from there some or all the time. This scheme is also not based on how much you earn and will not affect any other benefits you get, and you will not have to pay it back.
• Internal support for mental health

Within your employment your company may have a mental health policy that could be available to assist and support you. Although this is not a legal requirement for companies, an increasing number of employers now have this. Whether it is an internal policy or if they are partnered with a mental and physical health support company, this could be particularly supportive for stress as this does not qualify for support under the Equality act 2010 as a disability.

Bangor University can help yo u with employment related issues. If you would like an appointment please call 01248 388411 or email bulac@bangor.ac.uk