"Mental health plays a massive part of our everyday lives. It effects how we meet people, how we interact, how we perform at work. With 1 in 6 employees currently experiencing a mental health problem, it has never been more important to have the correct tools in place to support your workforce"
As a manager in the events industry, you are probably more aware than ever of the impact of employee mental health on your team's success. Factors including stress and burnout not only results in increased absenteeism and disability leave, but also increased errors, accidents, interpersonal conflicts and decreased productivity.
So what can you do to support the mental health of your team?
1. Make reasonable adjustments
Even with a robust well being strategy in place, employees will still face mental health difficulties. Making reasonable adjustments to remove disadvantages felt by staff because of a physical or mental illness is a legal requirement under the Equality Act 2010 and can help staff to reach their full potential.
2. Be proactive as well as reactive
Actively promoting positive well being by communicating a compelling vision, providing learning opportunities, creating meaningful work, and having a sense of shared purpose.
Ultimately, there is no blue print for creating a positive approach to mental health in the workplace because every workplace is different. As a manager, your first step is to understand your team, job demands, and professional and personal stresses - and find unique and innovative ways to support them.
You may provide new parents with excellent parental leave or flexible working hours. If physical well being is a concern on your team, you can look at free or discounted gym memberships. Even small initiatives such as remote working can demonstrate your concern for the well being of your team.
However, while workplace programmes are important, managers who know what to do when employees are in distress are the real key to any successful workplace mental health strategy.
Information provided by ExCeL London

The Business Design Centre have trained their senior members of staff with Mental Health First Aid England to become Mental Health First Aid Champions.
Why not train your team?
BDC First Aid Training Case Study
Mental Health First Aid Training
Use these posters up in your staff room, to remind everyone of who they can go to for support...
Posters provided by MHFA England