Employees believe revealing mental health problems to employers could result in sacking
Half of all Scottish workers believe they’ll get sacked if their employer finds out they have a mental health problem.
Campaign group See Me said there is still a stigma towards mental health in workplaces which stops people seeking help, with 48% of workers saying people would be unlikely to disclose over concerns for their job.
The figures, part of a YouGov survey of 1,165 Scottish workers, also found 55% thought that people would be unlikely to disclose a mental illness as it could result in being passed over for promotion or moved to another post.
Only 22% of people think their co-workers have a good understanding of the importance of employee mental health, however 83% said they would want a better understanding if their colleague was experiencing mental health problems.
Judith Robertson, head of See Me, said: “Stigma and discrimination in the workplace is a major issue.
“These new figures show that there is a significant problem with people being able to speak openly about mental health.
“The cost to Scottish employers by not properly supporting employees with mental health conditions is considerable, approximately £2 billion a year.
“Employers have a legal and moral responsibility to look after the health and well-being of everyone who works for them and it is important to know how staff are being treated.”
Employers have a legal and moral responsibility to look after employees' health
Gemma Patterson, from South Uist, Outer Hebrides, has found that experiencing post-traumatic stress when she was a teenager has stopped her from being recruited to roles and left her feeling unsupported in work.
The 22 year old was denied her dream job in the navy, after passing her entrance exam and fitness test, as they deemed she was more “susceptible” to mental health problems, despite her doctor, councillor and psychiatrist confirming she had come out of her illness “stronger”.
She added: “In work I have gone to employers for support and haven’t received any help. I felt very alone.”
The charity is aiming to counteract the problem by engaging with employers and support them in making changes to their work practices through its See Me in Work scheme.
It encourages an equal recruitment process and to ensure those returning to work following ill-health are fully supported.
Network Rail, Edinburgh City Council and Edinburgh agency Lewis Creative are taking part in the first phase of the scheme with See Me.
Mark Henderson, Network Rail senior communications manager for community engagement, said: “The reality is that most people at some point in their lives will suffer from mental health challenges and have times when they struggle to cope.
“We look forward to working with See Me to help develop this important new initiative.”
