The Australian publication The Age recently ran an article that says that investing in mental health for staff pays off, not because it means human beings will suffer less, but because you can gain a tidy return on your investment.
Employers urgently need to treat the mental health of their staff as
seriously as their physical health and safety, according to Australia's
first campaign on mental health in the workplace.
With an estimated one in five Australian workers experiencing
mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, the cost to
businesses is at least $10.9 billion a year, says mental health group
beyondblue.
But if Australian businesses are willing to invest in
effective mental health strategies they stand to gain an average return
of $2.30 for every $1 spent, according to a report beyondblue
commissioned from PricewaterhouseCoopers.
