As World Mental Health Day calls on organisations to “prioritise mental health in the workplace,” Towergate Health & Protection is urging employers to equip staff with the tools to manage their own wellbeing.
Debra Clark, head of wellbeing at Towergate Health & Protection, said employees should be supported “by being given the means to take responsibility for their own mental health,” rather than being directed through a top-down approach.
The insurer noted that employers can play a significant role by introducing wellbeing initiatives covering mental, physical, social, and financial health. Examples include access to mindfulness and sleep apps, stress-management programmes, and resilience training to help employees recover from setbacks and handle pressure more effectively.
Towergate’s research, released in July 2024, showed that 57% of UK employers view mental health as their biggest concern under hybrid working conditions, ahead of physical health (49%) and financial wellbeing (44%). The study also found that 60% believe mental health support has become more important in their organisations. David Williams, head of group risk for Towergate Employee Benefits, said employers must “embrace the support available in order to keep their workforce healthy, happy, and productive.”
The call for stronger workplace support comes amid broader warnings from national and global reports. The Big Mental Health Report 2024 by Mind revealed that one in four people in England experience a mental health problem each year, with the economic and social cost estimated at £300 billion - about twice the NHS annual budget. It added that people with severe mental illness are up to five times more likely to die prematurely than those without such conditions.
Separately, research cited by the World Economic Forum’s Thriving Workplaces report in April 2025 suggested that improving workplace wellbeing could add $11.7 trillion (£9.6 trillion) to the global economy. Professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, of the University of Oxford, noted that “people are their greatest assets, and if you take care of people, they’ll take care of business.”
Towergate said effective mental health partnerships between employers and employees can reduce absenteeism, improve productivity, and support long-term profitability.
Should mental health support now be treated as a shared responsibility between employers and employees? Share your thoughts in the comments.
