[DanBC]

Mental health problems are very common. There is some stigma around mental ill-health. These tie into cognitive bias to make us think that mental ill-health is more common in developers than it is in the general population.

Learning about mental health is important for people running a business. They need to look after their mental wellbeing. They also need to avoid discriminating against employees who have a mental illness.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/mental-health-statistics-fa...

Stigma around mental ill-health makes it harder for people to get work; to stay in work; to seek help for their mental health problems (both informal help from friends, colleagues, and family; and formal help from talking-therapists or doctors) and also from seeking help for other illness. For example: a person who self harms on their arm may avoid doctor appointments where blood is taken or blood pressure is taken because that person does not want to reveal their self harm. (This also applies to women who self harm on their thighs avoiding gyno appointments.)

Ignoring all the human stuff this has costs to business and to society: about 70 million days are lost to UK industry because of mental ill-health. Billions of pounds (£) are lost to mental ill health.

Some simple measures could reduce that a lot. Building a culture where people can talk about their mental health is important. Allowing people to access therapies while staying working is important.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/your-organisation/support-w...