Stressed Out

International Stress Awareness Week 2025 is currently happening (3rd – 7th November). The annual awareness raising event focuses on the impact that stress can have on mental and physical health, and the importance of stress management.

This year the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is saying that it is “Time to act on work-related stress” and reminding employers that work-related stress is one of the leading causes of ill health at work – and that preventing it is a legal duty, not just a ‘nice-to-have’.

The HSE says their statistics show that in 2023/24  “776,000 workers reported suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety. This accounted for nearly half of all self-reported work-related ill health and led to an estimated 16.4 million working days lost over the same period.”

The HSE is also reminding employers that they have a “legal duty to protect workers from stress at work by doing a risk assessment and acting on it.”

Unite has been supporting members to tackle workplace stress and is encouraging them to get involved with the United Minds Campaign.

Unite reps themselves are facing increasing additional pressures and will benefit from the union’s mental health support programme for reps. They will also require more support in negotiating mental health and stress support programmes in the workplace.

The United Minds Campaign website is packed full of resources to help reps and members. As well as a campaign guide, and the Unite Mental Health Guide for Reps and Negotiators there is a stress at work survey and a model facilities agreement.

Rob Miguel. National Health and Safety Advisor, Unite the Union said; “It is good to see that during International Stress Awareness week this year the HSE is recognising the huge negative impact that work related stress can have on people’s mental health.”

“I would encourage all Unite reps to visit the United Minds campaign page and get involved in supporting colleagues.”

“The page is full of tools and materials to assist reps in negotiating better management processes around mental health and stress issues in the workplace.”

The United Minds Campaign wants change, and is calling the government and employers to play their part. This includes calls for new legislation around workplace stress and psychosocial risk, codes of practice to ensure employer assistance and support programmes for mental health are consistent and of high quality and to ensure that work related suicides to be reportable to HSE under Riddor. 

United Minds also wants employers to ensure workplace stress risk assessments and consideration of psychosocial hazards are undertaken, and that their mental health support programmes are fit for purpose.

Unite Education runs highly popular and practical “Mental Health Awareness” courses across the regions, with more details available on the Unite Education website.

Unite has also produced, and recently updated, a very useful Mental Health Guide for reps and negotiators, which is a guide for shop stewards/workplace reps that provides an overview of mental health issues at work; how to support members and negotiate with employers.

To find out more, access the resources and download the posters go to the United Minds Campaign website. 

By Keith Hatch