A leading business is urging organisations to challenge outdated perceptions of workplace health, calling for an urgent shift in focus from purely physical risks to a more holistic view.
“When we think of the word ‘healthy’, our minds usually jump straight to physical health,” said Nathan Shearman, head of therapy and training at workplace mental health experts Red Umbrella.
“We think about diet, exercise, or physical illness. In the workplace, that might translate to accident prevention, safety signage, or ergonomic furniture. But health, by definition, includes mental and social wellbeing; and it’s time our workplaces truly reflected that.”
According to the Health and Safety Executive, over half of all work-related ill health in the UK last year was due to stress, anxiety or depression. Mental health issues resulted in more than 17 million lost working days in 2023/24, underlining just how far-reaching the impact is – not just for individuals, but for productivity and the wider economy.
Shearman added: “Mental ill health can be just as damaging as physical illness and, often, it’s the root cause of it. A study by the Institute of Safety and Health in 2023 showed a direct link between poor mental health and increased risk-taking behaviour at work. If someone’s struggling mentally, they’re more likely to get hurt. That’s a safety risk we just can’t afford to ignore.”
So, what does a mentally healthy workplace actually look like?
The answer begins with culture. While training and education are crucial, meaningful change starts with the attitudes and behaviours embedded in the day-to-day fabric of an organisation.
“There’s still a lot of stigma around mental health,” says Shearman. “Pressure to hit deadlines and targets at any cost creates an environment where admitting you’re stressed or burned out is seen as weakness – or worse, something to be mocked or dismissed. That’s toxic. And if leaders don’t address it, the culture won’t change.”
A truly healthy workplace, he explains, is one where employees feel safe to speak up. That requires leadership that’s not only willing to listen, but also proactive about addressing the root causes of stress within the organisation. Shearman emphasises that it’s vital for leaders to acknowledge when harmful patterns exist and to take visible, meaningful action to turn things around.
He said: “Just as we risk assess our offices for physical hazards, we need to be assessing for mental health risks, too. What are the areas of our business that are putting pressure on our people, for instance? Once we know that, we can start making changes that support their wellbeing.”
The role of managers in this equation is particularly crucial. A 2024 report from The Workforce Institute revealed that managers had the most significant impact on employees’ mental health – more than therapists, doctors, or even a partner or spouse. Yet a study from 2023 showed that around a third of managers felt completely unequipped to handle mental health issues in their team.
“That gap is huge,” says Shearman. “Managers are on the frontline. If they don’t feel confident, then employees won’t get the help they need. That’s why training managers isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ – it’s essential.”
Importantly, Shearman stresses that even in the healthiest workplaces, people will still sometimes need help: and that’s okay. What matters is that help is readily available when it’s needed. Access to professional support like counselling and therapy should be a baseline offering, not an emergency measure. Whether it’s through a traditional Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or a flexible pay-as-you-go model, support needs to be within reach for everyone.
“There’s no such thing as a workplace where no one ever struggles,” said Shearman. “But what we can build are workplaces where people don’t have to struggle alone.
“Let’s stop treating mental health as a side issue. It’s time to put it at the heart of how we define workplace safety. Because a truly healthy workplace is one where people feel seen, supported and safe in every sense of the word.”
The post Redefining “Healthy” Workplaces: Psychotherapist Warns About Mental Health Gaps on World Day for Safety and Health at Work first appeared on HR News.
