title: Mental health problems in the workplace: changes in employers' knowledge, attitudes and practices in England 2006-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2006 the Shaw Trust charity found high levels of ignorance and poor preparedness to deal with mental health problems among 480 senior employers in the UK. The UK government, non-governmental organisations and Time to Change (TTC) have since provided relevant assistance to employers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether there have been improvements in mental health-related knowledge, attitudes and workplace practices among British senior employers between 2006 and 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  A telephone survey was conducted of senior British employers (n = 480 in 2006 and n = 500 in 2009 and 2010).
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increased awareness of common mental health problems was detected. Employers continued to believe that job candidates should disclose a mental health problem, but became less likely to view colleagues' attitudes as a barrier to employing someone with such a problem. Formal policies on mental health and the use of workplace accommodations became increasingly common.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results are consistent with those of the TTC national public attitudes and the Viewpoint survey of service users between 2008 and 2010, which showed improved public attitudes to mental illness and a reduction in experiences of discrimination in employment.
authors.affiliation: Health Service and Population Research Department, Box PO29, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. Claire.1.Henderson@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thornicroft
mesh_terms: D004739:England; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*