April marks Stress Awareness Month, a timely reminder for all employers to reflect on how they support mental health in the workplace. Work-related stress, depression, and anxiety are among the leading causes of absence and burnout. But with the right steps, you can make a real difference. That’s where the HSE’s Working Minds campaign comes in. Over the course of April, take five simple steps to prevent stress and promote mental wellbeing among your workers.
Step 1: Reach Out and Start Conversations
Open and honest communication is the foundation of good mental health. Make space for regular check-ins where your team feels safe to speak up about stress or workloads. A simple conversation can go a long way in showing employees that their wellbeing matters.
Step 2: Recognise the Signs and Causes of Stress
Stress can show up in different ways, changes in behaviour, dips in performance, or increased absenteeism. It’s important to identify not just the symptoms, but also the root causes. Heavy workloads, lack of control, poor communication, or unclear expectations are all common triggers.
Step 3: Respond by Taking Action
Once you’ve identified risks or issues, agree on clear, achievable actions with your team. This could mean adjusting workloads, offering flexible hours, or improving workplace communication. The goal is to reduce pressure points and create a healthier environment.
Step 4: Reflect on What’s Working
Give it time, then take a step back to review progress. Has there been a reduction in stress-related absences? Do employees feel more supported? Reflecting allows you to assess whether the actions taken are effective, and adjust if needed.
Step 5: Make Mental Health Support Routine
Mental wellbeing isn’t a one-time box to check, it’s a continuous effort. Build regular check-ins into your business operations, embed mental health into policies, and encourage a culture of openness and support year-round.
Take Your Business to the Next Level
Supporting mental health isn’t just a moral duty, it’s a legal one. Under sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers must take steps to prevent work-related stress and protect employee wellbeing. Whether you run a small business or a large organisation, this responsibility applies to you.
By taking proactive steps, you not only comply with the law you also improve productivity, reduce sickness absence, and boost retention. Healthy minds mean healthy business.
HSE offers free online learning with step-by-step guidance, tools, and templates to help you implement the campaign’s five steps. Register today to get started.
Learn More: Watch the Webinar
Earlier this year, HSE and Healthy Working Wales hosted a webinar to help businesses manage workplace stress and meet legal obligations. The session covered the signs of stress, employer responsibilities, and practical resources available to support your team.
