8607-533 Managing Mental Health in the Workplace

Introduction

Unit 8607-533 Managing Mental Health in the Workplace is one of the units within the ILM Level 5 qualification in leadership and management that helps to build the ability of the leader to influence the mental well-being of individuals in their areas of responsibility. Mental health is a critical element that impacts the performance of individuals within the workplace. It is important to ensure that leaders create a culture and practice within their areas of responsibility that aims at creating conducive and enabling environments that support mental well-being. This includes being able to identify factors that could compromise mental health and stressors within the areas of operations and setting strategies to overcome such constraining factors.

Leaders should also put in place effective strategies that are flexible enough to ensure the team members or employees suffering from mental health issues are provided with the necessary care and support to facilitate a full recovery. Focusing on mental health ensures that the organisation is compliant with the legal and ethical frameworks governing health and safety within the workplace. Unit 8607-533 Managing Mental Health in the Workplace is a unit that focuses on providing the leaders and stakeholders within organisations with information they can use to effectively handle mental health.

The unit guides them to understand the needs of employees and the role of leaders in setting up the desired standards of health and safety with a focus on mental health. Learners are also guided to appreciate the impacts of advocacy on the mental health of staff on employee wellbeing. This unit has the purpose of boosting the ability of leaders to apply knowledge and understanding of mental health issues in the workplace in addressing critical challenges associated with it. The unit is taught in 8 hours of guided learning and has a credit value of 3.

Unit purpose and aim(s)

Use your knowledge and understanding of mental health issues in the workplace, as needed for your role as a practising manager.

Who is this unit suitable for?

Unit 8607-533 Managing Mental Health in the Workplace is a unit that is highly suitable for different stakeholders within the workplace. All stakeholders must understand their role in creating an environment and workplace that promotes mental well-being among the staff and employees. This includes being able to effectively adhere to the legal and ethical frameworks established within the workplace to guide the mental well-being of the employees. It is important for leaders to ensure that they create effective approaches that are designed to improve mental health in the workplace and advocate for the mental health of staff within the workplace and at the industry level.

These approaches ensure that the organisation improves its brand image and facilitates effective approaches towards handling health and safety standards that have been established from the legal and ethical frameworks implemented within the workplace. The unit is designed to meet the learning needs of the middle managers within the workplace. It provides these stakeholders with information that they can use to effectively handle and manage the employees and staff within their departments, regions, and lines in the workplace.

This ensures that the employees are able to effectively contribute towards organisational and team goals and objectives. However, the unit is not limited to these leaders but is also applicable to other stakeholders. Executive managers and junior managers can use the information to make effective decisions in their respective areas of responsibility. The information is also useful for external consultants and employees who play critical roles in informing and supporting decision-making within the organisations.

What are the learning outcomes of this unit?

After completing the unit, learners should:

1. Identify Strengths and Weaknesses of Mental Health Initiatives:

• Assess the organization’s current approach to mental health.
• Analyze how other organizations implement mental health strategies and share examples of best practices.

2. Carry Out Legal Requirements for Positive Staff Mental Health:

• Develop a plan to address reasonable adjustment requests from a staff member.
• Describe approaches to enhance and manage mental health in the workplace.

3. Hold and Record Conversations about Staff Mental Health:

• Advocate for staff mental health as a valuable resource.
• Communicate with staff about their mental health and provide support for improvement.
• Assess your own mental health and its potential impact on others.

What are the key learning areas of this unit?

Unit 8607-533 Managing Mental Health in the Workplace, is a unit designed for the workplace, focusing on providing leaders with the information they need to create a positive working environment in their areas of responsibility. This unit covers key areas of learning:

1. Strengths and Weaknesses of Mental Health Initiatives:

• Understand the principles of mental health initiatives and their role in meeting legal requirements and frameworks.
• Explore how initiatives and policies shape the organisation’s brand image and influence the development of performance-promoting policies.
• Relate mental health initiatives to various organisational goals and policies, ensuring all stakeholders understand their role in fostering mental well-being.

2. Implementing, Holding, and Recording Mental Health Initiatives:

• Understand and appreciate techniques for effectively managing mental health initiatives in the workplace.
• Learn approaches to enhance mental health standards within the workplace.
• Be guided on specific techniques to handle conversations with staff and other stakeholders about mental health, including establishing confidentiality agreements and promoting positive mental health elements in the workplace.

How is the unit evaluated?

After finishing the unit, learners need to undergo an evaluation. This evaluation involves a written assessment to assess their mastery of both theoretical and practical information covered in the unit. The evaluation process includes formative assessments, such as supervised practice and simulated exercises. These assessments test the learners’ ability to apply the concepts they’ve learned in real-world situations, providing a comprehensive understanding of the material.

Journals

“Mental Health in the Workplace: Employer Perspectives and Initiatives” by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) (2023) 

“The Impact of Workplace Mental Health Initiatives on Employee Wellbeing and Performance: A Meta-Analysis” by the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology (2022)

“Managing Mental Health in the Workplace: A Practical Guide for Employers” by the Mental Health Foundation (2021)

“The Mental Health of Employees: What Employers Need to Know” by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) (2020)

“Mental Health in the Workplace: A Legal and Ethical Perspective” by the Law Society (2019)

FAQ

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• ILM Level 5