With employees working harder than ever, mental health issues are increasingly common in the workplace.  This awful case in Japan is a reminder of the enormous impact which an employer's working practices can have on an individual.

An estimated 1 in 4 people in the UK are likely to experience mental health problems in any given year so it's more important than ever for employers to engage fully with this issue.  Are your managers equipped to spot the signs and manage situations appropriately?  Or are they reluctant to intervene? 

Stress at work (and its causes) is a hotly debated topic in the advertising and marketing services sector. Millions of working days are lost each year to common mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression. Managing the absence results in both financial costs but also legal risks such as disability discrimination or personal injury claims. 

So the benefits of maintaining a mentally healthy workforce, for individuals and the business, are enormous...and there's a huge amount of advice and support out there which employers can use to help them understand the issues and put appropriate measures in place.  Carrying on as normal and hoping that no problems arise really isn’t an option.  This case shows us that in the starkest possible terms.