Mental health awareness week

‘More can be done’ on pub staff mental health

By Emily Hawkins

- Last updated on GMT

Struggling staff: research by the Licensed Trade Charity shows mental health absences match a national average
Struggling staff: research by the Licensed Trade Charity shows mental health absences match a national average

Related tags mental health

Just over one in 10 pub workers have missed work because of a mental health issue, according to research by the Licensed Trade Charity.

Some 12% of respondents said a mental health issue had caused them to take time off from work.

This is similar to figures for the overall economy, with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimating that 12.7% of all sickness absence days are taken because of mental health issues.

A majority of those surveyed (55%) said they felt they and their co-workers would benefit from having a greater understanding of mental health issues.

The survey of 370 individuals employed in the trade was published to coincide with mental health awareness week (13-19 May).

It follows the publication of a survey that found 81% of UK chefs working in professional kitchens have experienced poor mental health during their careers, as reported by The Morning Advertiser​.

Drive forward innovation

Licensed Trade Charity chief executive Jim Brewster said while the figures were similar to national averages, they were further evidence the industry needed to do more to support staff. 

He said: “While the survey results are encouraging in the way our industry does not appear out of line with the UK as a whole on mental health, we know more can be done.

“It is reassuring that so many pub companies are working hard in this area to support their staff, and also making full use of our services such as the 24/7 helpline, free counselling and training for managers.

“We will continue to drive forward innovation in this area to enable us to support pub, bar and brewery workers on mental health, as we do in so many other aspects”.

The charity launched free training sessions​ to help publicans identify and support employees with mental health issues last year.

It has made a three-year commitment to hold training events for managers each month ​across the country and released a video to educate managers on identifying signs of staff struggling.​ 

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