It is now widely recognised that event management is the 5th most stressful occupation after the military and blue light services.

The overall objective of  World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health around the world.

An employer’s duty of care in both common and criminal law extends to mental health in just the same way as it does to preventing physical injury.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is scheduled to update its 'Mental wellbeing at work' (PH22:2009) guideline.

A key driver for the update is the increase in the proportion of employees who are part-time, temporary, agency staff, on zero hours contracts or self-employed since PH22 was published in 2009. Such employment terms are common within the events industry.

PH22 provides guidance on how to create a culture to support mental wellbeing at work such as:

• promote a culture of participation, equality and fairness that is based on open communication and inclusion.
• create an awareness and understanding of mental wellbeing and reduce the potential for discrimination and stigma related to mental health problems.
• implement frameworks such as Health and Safety Executive management standards for work-related stress to promote and protect employee mental wellbeing.
• train managers to identify and respond with sensitivity to employees' emotional concerns, and symptoms of mental health problems.
• ensure that managers understand when it is necessary to refer an employee to occupational health services or other sources of help and support.

The guidance is aimed at those who have a direct or indirect role in, and responsibility for, promoting mental wellbeing at work. Consequently, the guidance is equally relevant to those with line management responsibilities as it is to Health and Safety and HR management.

The full version of the existing guidance can be viewed via the NICE website (www.nice.org.uk).

The updated guideline is expected to be published in August 2021.