As we begin to emerge from the Covid-19 crisis, the mental health of the nation has become a huge cause for concern - some are even calling it the second pandemic.
According to Scope, around 800,000 more people suffered from mental health problems last year than did so the year before.
It is no surprise that in the past couple of years many of us have been gripped by anxieties about contracting the virus, the health of our family and friends, the emotional toll of lockdowns, or having to self-isolate.
The workplace is one area where we can see the effects of this playing out, no matter which sector you look at.
The cost to the UK economy of poor mental health problems is estimated to be at least £118 billion annually – equivalent to around 5 per cent of the UK’s GDP - according to a report published this month by the LSE. Almost three quarters of the cost is due to the lost productivity of people living with mental health conditions.
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The good news is there are many ways employers can help to create a society where everyone’s mental health matters. When you bear in mind that adults spend at least a third of their time at work, it makes sense that changes here will have a knock-on effect on how society deals with mental health in general.
While parliament is not immune to these issues, we have introduced training in mental health first aid. No one would question the importance of having traditional first aid experts on hand in the workplace, so why shouldn’t our mental health also be deserving of similar support?
Having members of staff who can help staff with their wellbeing has been hugely valuable, and is something I would encourage all workplaces to take up.
I have also been personally supportive of the My Whole Self campaign, run by the social enterprise, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. It aims to create a workplace culture where people have the safety and freedom to choose which parts of their identity they share at work, without fear of judgement.
In 2022, we should not have to leave parts of our identity behind when we work - whether these include our cultural or ethnic background, gender identity, sexuality, disability or health. In fact, research shows that the highest performing workplaces are supportive and inclusive.
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In that spirit I will share that as well as being MP for Chorley and the Speaker of the House of Commons, I am also a huge Motown lover, a sports fan, and a diabetic.
As someone who would like to see a nicer, kinder politics in the UK, I believe initiatives such as these are essential for moving the dial when it comes to both mental health and how we treat one another at work. If we understand our colleagues better, we can support each other more. So, let’s work together to create a culture where people feel safe to be themselves at work.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle is the Speaker of the House of Commons