The role of business to proactively address the mental health crisis

Throughout the past decade, the UK has experienced a burgeoning crisis in mental and physical health. This crisis has disproportionately impacted the most vulnerable groups of society, exacerbating long-standing disparities and inequalities in healthcare access and outcomes.

The mental health crisis in the UK is well documented; however, to truly understand it and rectify it, policymakers must focus on the wider determinants of health.

Businesses have a vital role to play in helping to prevent and minimise mental health problems which will also address productivity and labour inactivity challenges dragging the UK economy down.

 The Role of Policymaking

The Government has announced various policies to address this health crisis, including the Levelling Up plans in 2022, which seeks to close the gap in healthy life expectancy between the top-performing and lowest-performing areas. Addressing the wider determinants of health, such as income and educational attainment levels for example, will be vital to ensuring objectives of levelling up are met.

While Levelling Up is focussed on tackling the root causes of health inequalities, through investing in regions requiring better transport infrastructure, housing and high-quality jobs, a lack of political drive and long-term commitment has slowed any progress.

If the Government fails to tackle the root cause of our chronically ill population, we are, as a society, at risk of a vicious cycle of individual and economic decline. Therefore, we need to go beyond welfare reform and tail-end system stopgaps and take long-term, proactive, and urgent steps to support both individual and economic health.

We need a long-term approach, investing now to prevent ill health in future. This involves rebuilding the relationship between employers, workers, and health, and driving long-term action.

Widening Health Divides

The data paints a stark picture of the widening health and wealth divides. Statistics show that those living in poorer neighbourhoods throughout England are dying increasingly younger and struggling with mental health pressures more than their counterparts in wealthier areas.

For instance, women living in the most affluent parts of Kensington and Chelsea are expected to live for an average of 90.7 years, compared to a mere 77.2 years in the poorest neighbourhoods. 

Similarly, the mental health crisis has taken a particularly heavy toll on young people, with 67% of 25-34-year-olds experiencing at least mild levels of depression.

We must also consider any multiplier effects from regional health inequalities. For example, the latest report by the Resolution Foundation found 5.8% of the UK’s working-age population is currently off work due to ill health, up from 5.1% pre-pandemic. Significantly higher rates of long-term sickness are observed in poorer regions, with up to 9.1% in West Wales. Geographical disparities underscore the need for targeted interventions to address health inequalities.

Business Imperatives

Research from the University of Sheffield highlights the complexity of the relationship between work and our health. Health is key to productivity, and equally, our work plays a significant role in impacting our health. Having job security, regular hours, and autonomy can boost health, while low pay and work pressures can exacerbate mental health strains, in many cases to the point of physical illness.

Breaking the cycle of poor health and low participation at work will require a nuanced, multi-faceted approach that goes beyond traditional corporate wellness initiatives. 

Clearly, time is of the essence and businesses have a role to play to address a sicker workforce, lower productivity, and a worsening economy. We cannot wait for the Government to develop comprehensive policies when there’s a prime opportunity for businesses to step up and provide practical support through workplace-led health interventions.

Mental Health Support

While the current and future Governments will need to tackle the mental health epidemic in the UK, businesses will have a crucial role too, for example by addressing working conditions and offering tailored employee health and wellness solutions.

Businesses should create an open and positive environment where employees feel empowered to discuss their physical and mental health concerns without fear of negative repercussions for their jobs. 

This might involve training managers to have empathetic, non-judgmental conversations about wellbeing, and ensuring there are clear, confidential channels for employees to access support. Businesses should also consider offering comprehensive mental health services, such as counselling, therapy, and access to online resources. 

Physical Health Support 

In addition to supporting employees’ mental health, businesses should promote physical health through initiatives that encourage regular movement, exercise, and healthy lifestyle choices. This could include providing onsite fitness facilities, organising group activities like walking clubs or sports teams, and offering discounted gym memberships. 

Health as a Strategic Imperative

Businesses should see health and wellness initiatives as strategic drivers of workplace health and productivity, and not just ‘corporate perks’.

Businesses cannot be expected to solve all root causes of poor health but should recognise and understand the complex interplay between an individual’s living conditions, access to resources, and overall quality of life. 

Businesses have a prime opportunity, and indeed an imperative, to step up and provide practical, workplace-based interventions to support the holistic well-being of their workforce. 

By investing in comprehensive mental and physical health programmes, businesses can improve employee health outcomes while contributing to the broader societal effort to combat entrenched disparities. Time is of the essence, and a long-term, systemic proactive approach is required to break the cycle of poor health and low workforce participation.