Employers' Forum on Disability supports World Mental Health Day 2006
10th October 2006
Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD) is pleased to support World Mental Health Day 2006, which takes place today (10 October 2006).
As the world's leading organisation dedicated to disability as it affects business, EFD is committed to helping employers to improve their approach to mental health in the workplace.
People with mental health problems represent an undervalued and untapped pool of talent and are four times more likely to be unemployed than non-disabled people. Up to 90 per cent of people with mental health problems want to work. Research shows that employment is good for mental health, whilst unemployment can be extremely damaging.
Statistics show that three in ten employees will acquire a mental health problem during the course of a year. Developing a working environment that promotes good mental health and encouraging supportive and responsive management practices is a core part of sustainable employment practices.
Niccola Swan, deputy chief executive of Employers' Forum on Disability said: "Effective management of mental health in the workplace is not only good news for employees it is also good news for business.
"Mental health problems account for the loss of over 91 million working days each year, costing British business four billion pounds a year.
"Promoting good mental health at work can reduce sickness absence, increase retention and lead to higher levels of motivation and productivity.
"Employers' Forum on Disability is keen to support UK employers to respond to this business priority".
Ends
Notes to editors
- Employers' Forum on Disability has recently launched its Mental Health Learning and Action Research Network, working with leading employers who have already demonstrated a significant commitment to this agenda. Attendees at the first meeting were drawn from BT, the Metropolitan Police, Rolls Royce, Royal Mail, Unum and the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health.
- The Network will be leading the way in analysing the systemic, social and environmental barriers that limit the employment opportunities available to people with mental health problems and producing recommendations for change. EFD also hopes to maximise the learning from the Network to develop and test practical tools which can support employers to recruit and retain more people with mental health problems as part of a diverse workforce.
Media enquiries, please contact:
Liz Nightingale, Communications Manager
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: liz.nightingale@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020
About Employers' Forum on Disability
Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 400 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.