Bosses are being urged to look out for the mental wellbeing of employees this Christmas, with The Scottish Business Resilience Centre describing the topic as "taboo" in the workplace.
The non-profit organisation has teamed up with mental health charity See Me to offer advice to businesses on how to break down barriers and look after staff during Christmas and New Year.
Eamonn Keane, Head of Cyber and Innovation at SBRC, said: “Given the workplace is where the majority of us spend a great deal of our time, it should be a supportive environment where people look after one another.
“For an employer, creating a healthy working environment can be important in ensuring a productive and effective organisation. So, while these tips will help staff, they also impact across the business to make it a much safer environment for everyone.”
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The new advice comes as it was announced that one in four Scottish adults have experienced common mental health problems.
Wendy Halliday, interim Director at See Me, said: “There’s a significant problem with people in Scotland not being able to speak openly about their mental health in the workplace, which can lead to people feeling like they’ve nowhere to go if they’re struggling.
“It’s really important that in all areas of our lives we’re able to say we’re not ok – especially in work.
“The fact that a tenth of people wouldn’t recommend someone for a job if they had a mental health problem shows the need for more education on mental health in work.”
The Scottish Business Resilience Centre and See Me have offered advice to businesses, focusing on three main areas - leadership role models, good internal communication and line management.
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