In a time when margins are tight and business challenges are relentless, it’s easy for mental health to slip down the priority list. But if you’re running a UK business, especially an SME, employee wellbeing isn’t a “nice-to-have”. It’s a business imperative.
According to Deloitte’s UK Mental Health Report, for every £1 invested in mental health, employers can expect to see a return of £5. That return comes through lower absenteeism, reduced presenteeism, higher retention, and improved morale.
Put simply: when your people are well, your business performs better.
Here are a few practical, high-impact steps business owners can take:
- Introduce or promote Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs): Confidential support can make a real difference, especially for those who may not otherwise seek help.
- Encourage rest, and model it yourself: Leaders who take breaks give others permission to do the same.
- Monitor the morale and stress levels within the business: Use a regular feedback system so that you can chart the general organisational mental wellbeing, and individuals can reflect on their own mental health.
Mental health isn’t just a moral responsibility. It’s a strategic investment, one that pays dividends in loyalty, innovation, and productivity.
In the long run, the question isn’t “Can we afford to invest in mental health?”
It’s “Can we afford not to?”