Latest research: 49.3% of us wouldn’t feel happy to disclose a mental health condition such as depression at work, rising to almost 54% amongst manual unskilled workers.
On World Mental Health Day 2008 the latest research* we have commissioned reveals that a staggering 49.3% of us wouldn’t feel happy to disclose a mental health condition such as depression at work, rising to almost 54% amongst manual unskilled workers.
The research found that only 18.3% of people would reveal a mental health condition to their HR department, however, 34% of people would discuss their condition with their line manager. Younger workers (16 – 24 year olds) and older workers (over 55’s) were least likely to be happy to discuss their mental health conditions. With 57% of younger workers saying they would not discuss it at all and only 12% of over 55’s saying they would be happy to talk to their HR department.
Respondents from Edinburgh and Leeds were least happy to discuss their mental health at all (67% and 63% respectively). 39% of the respondents from Edinburgh cited shame and embarrassment as their main reason for not wanting to disclose a mental health condition, whereas, 26% of respondents from Leeds cited fears that their employers would not be sympathetic as the reason for not feeling happy to discuss their mental health.
“Despite the office of National Statistics estimate that one in six people may experience a mental health condition at any one time, our research illustrates that people are still very reluctant to reveal their conditions and show any signs of perceived weakness.
However, we know from our work that people with mental health conditions are perfectly capable of managing a job and their condition with the right support from their employers and therefore feel it is vital that such misconceptions are laid to rest”.
Tim Cooper, Managing Director, Shaw Trust
The stigma attached to mental ill health was more of a concern than the fear of possibly hampering career progression among 25 – 44 year olds, with 37% of people in this age group citing shame as their main reason for not feeling happy to talk about a mental health condition.
Those respondents in graduate entry level jobs were the most confident that a mental health condition does not affect their ability to do their jobs, with 29% of the people in this group citing this as the main reason they wouldn’t discuss their mental health.
Respondents in professional sales, media and marketing were most concerned amongst all industry sectors about being treated differently if they were to disclose their mental health condition (31%) compared to just 4% of people within the professional finance industry who cited this as a concern.
Professional Finance also came out at the biggest industry group to cite that a mental health condition didn’t affect their ability to do their jobs as their main reason for not wishing to discuss it.
Overall 54% of people felt that they would receive more support at work for a physical disability than a mental health condition (rising to 58 % amongst the senior Manager / Professional group) compared to only 6.9% who believed they would receive more support for a mental health condition.
” People have become more comfortable talking about physical illnesses over the years, however, there is still a huge stigma associated with having a mental health condition. Dealing with such a problem often leaves people feeling awkward and a culture of secrecy seems to have emerged in which people are frightened to confide in others”.
Professor Cary L Cooper, CBE, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University
“There is a clear need for more structure and education on how to support employees with mental health issues, businesses need to create an environment in which people not only feel confident enough to discuss a mental health condition with a line manager or member of the HR team but in which they can also receive the support they need to continue making a valuable contribution. We see the effect that being out of work and coping with a mental health condition can have on people’s lives and we are urging employers to use this website to find out how to make a difference in the workplace”.
Tim Cooper, Managing Director, Shaw Trust
*All figures unless otherwise stated are from a Tickbox survey. Total sample size was 1070 workers. Fieldwork was undertaken between 18th – 24th September 2008. The survey was carried out online.
Hi there. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I went and visited your blog too which I liked – especially your entry about Frank Bruno’s depression and the paper’s reaction to it….
I know that your disability advisor was correct though; the stats are alarming and show that anyone who discloses a mental health problem is unlikely to be offered a job. Your experience of discrimination on the job is also fairly typical I’m afraid. If you’re interested in this subject do read Graham Thornicroft’s book “Shunned” and you’ll read loads of similar stories. Not really a help to you other than hopefully it will make you feel that you are not alone in your experiences at work.
Wow! 8 out of 10 of you on anti-depressants and your boss doesn’t know!!! Just goes to show that my stats about companies being in denial about how many of their employees are ill is correct….I’m glad to hear that you can be so supportive of others though…It takes one to know one! Take care
A disability advisor at the job centre once told me not to disclose my mental health history to any prospective employer. He said I was lucky as a female, because I could hide gaps in employment by hinting that I had childcare issues. I don’t have children.
I didn’t disclose it in my last job but eventually had to tell them after a lot of sick leave. Suddenly, every disagreement resulted in the question “have you taken your pills today?” and my line manager looked at me as though he expected me to take out a machete and start a killing spree. But amongst my colleagues I suddenly found that I was the person to come to whenever someone felt down. On a night team of ten in a call centre, 8 of us turned out to be on anti depressants. None of us had told the boss.
I finally decided to write a comment on your blog. I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts.