Fighting stigma

A poll of 500 business leaders reveals British businesses are failing employees with mental health conditions, from recruitment through to on-the-job support. The poll, conducted by the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, commissioned by Shaw Trust and funded by Time to Change and National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), reveals that 8 in 10 business chiefs think British industry 'loses out' on crucial abilities, skills and talent by failing to recruit or retain a diverse workforce. Despite this, the poll exposes businesses are discriminating against people with mental health conditions. Such high levels of prejudice are matched by poor levels of support and understanding. Consequently, the cost to businesses per year includes 70 million days lost due to sickness, and £26billion in financial losses. Dr Claire Henderson, Lead Researcher for the report at King's believes the situation is improving: 'Our findings suggest that workplace provisions are improving and that employers are more aware that they need to improve them for employees who develop, or disclose, a mental health problem once they are employed.