News update as of November 19, 2018

United Kingdom/50 business leaders demand a law on mental health. In an open letter published in the UK press on 18 November, 50 business leaders including the chiefs of Thames Water, Royal Mail, bookshop chain WHSmith as well as Ford UK, called on the government to take action on the issue of mental health in the workplace. Although the theme has been earmarked as a priority by Theresa May (see article n°10017), with the UK prime minister having made a pledge back in January 2017, nothing has been done, according to the letter’s signatories, who are supported by the Unite union. Workplace mental health issues are estimated to cost the UK economy some £35 million (€39.35 million) per year, with around 15.4 million of working days lost, and the 50 business leaders to sign the letter say such issues should be given equal footing with physical health problems. They call for mental health first aid to be obligatory in the workplace, as is already the case with emergency first aid. A measure of this kind has already been introduced by Royal Mail (see article n°10792). The business leaders, who say they want to break the stigma of workplace mental health, call on the government to make sure all companies are able detect psychological distress among their workers. Link to the letter.