- Think about mental health in the same way as you would do physical health.
- Talk through issues with individual employee’s and demonstrate that you are concerned for their health.
- Ask if there is anything you can do to help? Take a problem-centred approach to dealing with stress and other psycho-social issues.
- Consider a simple adjustment to work, taking account of the HSE risk factors above OBU Employee Focussed Individual Risk Assessment / Return to work Questionnaire (Word doc).
- Offer support and let the individual know where they can go for help e.g. Occupational Health (OH), OBU’s counselling service.
- Actively follow up an individual with stress problems and continue to demonstrate you wish to provide support.
- If work is affected speak to your HR Business Partner or Manager and consider making a referral to OH OH Management Referral Form (Word doc).
- Consider carrying out a formal risk assessment when making significant changes and there are signs that employees may be experiencing work-related stress ( Risk Assessment for Occupational Stress Word doc).
- Monitor sickness absence. If an employee has frequent short-term absences with a stress related illness, contact OH early.
- If an employee is off for more than 2 weeks with stress or a mental health condition refer them to OH. Consider using the Risk Assessment for Occupational Stress (Word doc) or OBU Employee Focussed Individual Risk Assessment / Return to work Questionnaire (Word doc) to plan a phased return to work.
- Review and if necessary modify work tasks and responsibilities if a team member has been off work with stress, anxiety, depression or any other significant mental health condition.
