B8 Mental ill health

Question 1

Stats ref mental ill health 2017/18

Answer 1

595000 suffering

15.4 million days lost

Question 2

Causes of mental ill health

Answer 2

workload
lack of support
violence, threats, bullying
changes at work

Question 3

Industries with mental ill health

Answer 3

education
health
public admin / defence

Question 4

sources of info

Answer 4

HSE RIDDOR - over 7 days absence work related
Labour Force survey of 38000 workers
THOR - GP

Question 5

depression symptoms

Answer 5

down
upset
tearful
restless
irritable
isolated
no self confidence / self esteem
suicidal

Question 6

behaviours - depression

Answer 6

avoid social events
self harm
difficult to speak / think clearly
difficult to remember / concentrate
alcohol / drug use
difficult to sleep
under / over eat
aches & pains
move slowly

Question 7

anxiety symptoms

Answer 7

nausea
tense muscles
dizzy
fast breathing
sweating
raised blood pressure
difficulty sleeping
increased need for toilet
feel tense
sense of dread
over busy mind
dwell on negative
restless 
unable to concentrate

Question 8

work related stress definition

Answer 8

adverse reaction of people to excessive pressure or other demands placed on them

Question 9

physical effects of stress

Answer 9

heart disease
back pain
headaches
repeat colds
weight gain / loss
tired
fainting
skin complaints
stomach complaints

Question 10

emotional signs of stress

Answer 10

mood swing
cynical
anxiety
loss of confidence
lack of self esteem
lack of concentration
panic attacks
withdrawn

Question 11

behavioural signs of stress

Answer 11

poor quality work
drug / alcohol use
insomnia
under / over eating
poor time management
accident prone
impaired speech
mood swings

Question 12

post traumatic stress disorder

Answer 12

psychological reaction to highly stressing event, eg violence

Question 13

PTSD symptoms

Answer 13

depression
sweating
flashbacks
nightmares

Question 14

causes of work mental ill health

Answer 14

organisation of work
workplace culture
working environ

Question 15

organisation of work factors

Answer 15

long hours
poor work / life balance
excessive workload / deadlines
anti social hours
unpredictable hours
changes to work hours
shift work

Question 16

workplace culture factors

Answer 16

poor communication
organisation structure - insufficient staff
too many staff = boredom
inconsistency in approach by managers
bonus systems / piece work
lack of resources
lack of support

Question 17

working environ factors

Answer 17

lack of space / privacy
excessive noise
temperature
inadequate light / ventilation
dirty / untidy
hazardous conditions
poor welfare facilities

Question 18

job factors

Answer 18

work load
time pressure
boredom
lack of clarity ref expectations
conflict of interests
lack of control / supervision

Question 19

individual factors

Answer 19

bullying
harassment
verbal / physical abuse
bereavement
relationship problems
medical conditions
commuting
childcare issues
caring for others
relocation
divorce

Question 20

HSE sources of stress

Answer 20

demands - workload, work patterns, environ
control - in how they do their work
support - resources, encouragement
relationships - avoid conflict, unacceptable behaviour
role - understand role in the org, no conflicting roles
change - how changed managed and communicated

Question 21

how to manage mental ill health at work

Answer 21

work is good for the person
provide time / rest periods
co-worker to assist
workplace assessment to determine stressors
supportive managers
early intervention
temp modifications to work
supportive environ
counselling
late start / early finish
work from home option
match job to capability
contact during sickness absence

Question 22

organisational activities to

manage mental health

Answer 22

recruitment - culture, fair recruitment process
at work - commitment to mental well being, policies
distress - counselling, EAP, OH, HR
sickness absence - sickness absence policy, internal / external support
RTW - rehab policy, retirement policy

Question 23

individual activities to manage mental health

Answer 23

recruitment - job / person fit
at work - appraisal, training, development, assessment
distress - spot signs, discuss, monitor
sickness absence - active engagement, return plan
RTW - return plan, active monitoring / support

Question 24

sources of info ref mental ill health at work

Answer 24

sickness absence data
accident data - increased frequency
productivity data - reduced performance
staff turnover
staff surveys
informal discussions
appraisals
focus groups
RTW interviews
Occ Health

Question 25

stress control measures - demand

Answer 25

balance work to hours
regular breaks / rest periods
match skills to job demands
minimise environ factors (noise, temp etc)

Question 26

stress control measures - control

Answer 26

provide workers with control over work pace and manner
encourage use of initiative
encourage personal development
consultation ref work patterns

Question 27

stress control measures - support

Answer 27

policies / procedure to provide support
system for managers to identify where support needed
encourage managers to provide support
encourage workers to support each other
ensure workers know what resources are available
provide regular constructive feedback

Question 28

stress control measures - relationships

Answer 28

promote positive behaviour that avoids conflict
unacceptable behaviour policies
encourage managers to deal with unacceptable behaviour
encourage reporting of unacceptable behaviour
ensure communication between managers & workers
systems for consultation

Question 29

stress control measures - role

Answer 29

ensure workers have required knowledge & skill
ensure compatible goals in role
ensure requirements are clear
ensure roles & responsibilities are clear
systems to raise concerns

Question 30

stress control measures - change

Answer 30

timely info ref change
consultation in proposed changes
provide info on impact of change
training & support during change

Question 31

stress control - other measures

Answer 31

stress management policy
general health awareness initiatives
address work life balance - job share, part time, home working, flexi time
stress awareness training
Occ health / counselling

Question 32

legal duty to manage stress

Answer 32

HSWA section 2 - sfarp ensure health, safety, welfare of all employess

HSAW section 7 - employee take reasonable care (report stress, implies not to cause stress)

MHSWR 1999 - Reg 3 - RA
Reg 4 - principles of prevention
Reg 13 - employer to take employee capability into account
Reg 14 - employee to report H&S shortcomings

Working Time Regs 1998 - cannot be forced to work > 48 hrs on avg
regular rest breaks
daily rest of min 11 hrs in each 24 hr period
wkly rest of not less than 24 hrs
4 weeks paid holiday min per year

Question 33

Common law stress

Answer 33

Negligence
duty of care owed
breach
breach cause harm
foreseeable

Question 34

Sutherland v Hatton & Others 2002

Answer 34

Stress at work - reasonableness

Court of Appeal heard 4 appeals by employers against awards to employees who suffered stress induced psychiatric illness

Ruling - not liable unless illness was reasonably foreseeable

No duty on employer to enquire about employee mental health
Take what employee says at face value unless good reason not to believe
Employer in breach if fails to take reasonable steps - look at size of riks, size of harm, cost to prevent harm.
Not likely to be in breach if employer provides access to counselling

Question 35

Walker v Northumberland county council 1995

Answer 35

stress at work - excessive workload

Walker was social worker
workload increased, suffered nervous breakdown
promised more resources on RTW
didn’t happen
2nd breakdown and retired
sued breach of duty to provide safe work environ

not liable for 1st breakdown as not reasonably foreseeable
liable for 2nd as caused by same means
failed to provide effective support

Question 36

Barber v Somerset county council 2004

Answer 36

stress at work - issue known or should have been known

Barber was teacher, worked long hrs, complained of overload.
Mental breakdown

Originally awarded £100k
SCC appealed on ground claimant had not told employer about his illness
Appeal to H of L - had informed each of SMT separately, not acted on. Awarded £72k

Question 37

Intel Corp v Daw 2007

Answer 37

stress at work - counselling does not discharge duty

Daw had chronic depression and breakdown
claimed unreasonable job demands affecting health
previously ill with post natal depression
open about her depression
employer provided counselling only, not other arrangements to address ill health

providing counselling only was not enough to discharge their duty of care

Question 38

Equality Act 2010

Answer 38

disability includes substantial & long term mental issue
reasonable adjustments - alter job content, work hours, rehab, more holiday / leave, extra support
redeployment