"Treat mental health the same as physical conditions in employment law, say business leaders", 21 Nov 2018

A number of the country’s most notable employers have called on the government to place mental health on the same level as physical first aid in employment and health and safety legislation. In an open letter yesterday, a number of UK business leaders called on prime minister Theresa May to prioritise manifesto pledges to update legislation and act on mental health in the workplace. The changes mean that under health and safety law, employers would have to provide appropriate training to help employees deal with mental ill-health. Workplaces would also be required to make provision for mental as well as physical first aid. Fionuala Bonnar, chief operating officer for Mental Health First Aid England, said the open letter showed business leaders “clearly recognise the need to support their employees’ mental health in the same way they do their physical health”...The open letter was also signed by Royal Mail, Channel 4, Business in the Community, PwC, Ford, Thames Water and Weight Watchers, as well as the Unite union.