Mental Health in the Workplace - Guidance for the recordkeeping sector (and beyond)
It is Mental Health Awareness Day this Saturday 10 October – as well as being aware of mental health issues there is plenty we can do about them.
In Spring 2026 ARA appointed Sharon McMeekin of Preserve Together to create guidance on mental health in the workplace for the recordkeeping sector. Previous research had shown that 16 per cent of the recordkeeping workforce suffers from long-term health issues, and over a third of this population identifies that their illnesses affect their work. The recordkeeping sector has long been aware that the workforce is affected by vicarious trauma but research into more general areas of mental illness, anxiety and depression had been overlooked, this guidance seeks to address that gap.
Professional services consultancy firm Deloitte has estimated that poor mental wellbeing costs employers in the UK between £42 billion and £45 billion annually through issues like presenteeism, sickness absence and employee turnover. The same research also reported that, on average, there is a positive return on investment of around £5 for every £1 spent on mental health support and interventions in the workplace. In addition to general workplace issues, recent community surveys have highlighted a number of mental health challenges that are specific to, or disproportionately affect, those working in the record keeping sector as well as creating barriers to entry, career development and progression.
The guidance aims to provide a clear and practical framework for how organisations can support employees’ mental health and to provide specific guidance for those in roles with line management responsibilities.
Many of the interventions suggested are low or no cost including using ARA’s competency framework, empowering employees to undertake CPD, as well as creating a culture of behaviours in the workplace that support everyone.
While the guidance cannot cover all situations that might occur, it does aim to provide a comprehensive framework for supporting mental health as well as offering a wide range of signposts to further information via various Appendices.
The information in the report is applicable to both the UK and Ireland and although it has been prepared with the recordkeeping sector as its primary audience there is good advice here for any employer.
You can find the report on the website here: https://www.archives.org.uk/mental-health-guidance
Where you can also download a pdf version if you prefer that format.