We should invest in mental health

We should invest in mental health because it has a dramatic effect on productivity.

I’m sharing the best statistics and arguments I use as a wellbeing keynote speaker, to make the case for mental health interventions in the hope that it will help you secure the resources you need during the cost of living crisis.

It feels uncomfortable to make an investment case because mental health should be of intrinsic value to every organisation.

But inevitably, I will be in a conversation with a committed HR team, but the programme won't go ahead because a clear and compelling financial case wasn't made to senior management.

The following is taken from the Building Resilience report I was sent by Nadine Sinclair. Thanks to Mind Matters for collating the research on this, and to Hala Sheikh Al Souk Al Souk for combing through and being so committed to this work.

Employees who experience poor mental health find it difficult to concentrate (70%), struggle with juggling several tasks (52%) and frequently put off challenging work (46%). Almost half of the affected employees (43%) are no longer able to perform specific tasks and struggle with making decisions (39%). About one in four employees find it challenging to learn new tasks, and one in five experience more conflict at work and are less patient with customers.

In a review of intervention, the ROI for workplace mental health programs ranged from €0.40 to €10.8 per €1 invested (0.4:1 and 10.8:1, respectively), with an average of 5.2:1.

Headline: for every 1 euro you spend, you get 5 euro back.

It’s a no brainer.

#MentalHealth #worldmentalhealthday

This piece was originally shared as a post on my LinkedIn and inspired by day-to-day insights from my own experience with burnout and my work as a wellbeing keynote speaker and resilience strategist.