Mental health policy template for UK employers

UK law doesn't require you to have a mental health policy. But employers do have to assess the risk of work-related stress and act on it, make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees and pay statutory sick pay.

A policy puts those duties in one place, written so employees know what to expect and who to talk to.

The template covers preventing stress, asking for support, adjustments, time off and returning to work.

Why it matters

964,000 workers had stress, depression or anxiety caused or made worse by work in 2024/25. Poor mental health costs UK employers £51bn a year and almost half of that comes from people working while unwell.

What the law requires

Preventing work-related stress

HSE expects employers to assess the risk of stress and act on it. Its Management Standards cover six areas of work.

• Demands. Workload, deadlines and the working environment.
• Control. How much say people have in the way they do their work.
• Support. Encouragement and resources from managers and colleagues.
• Relationships. How conflict and unacceptable behaviour are handled.
• Role. Whether people understand what is expected of them.
• Change. How change is managed and explained.

A risk assessment looks at each area, finds what is causing pressure and sets out what you will change.

Reasonable adjustments

You have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for a disabled employee. It applies when you know, or could reasonably be expected to know, about the condition.

Acas recommends making adjustments even when a condition isn't a disability. Examples include different hours, more breaks, a quieter place to work, changing parts of a role for a while and a phased return after absence.

An employee doesn't need a diagnosis to ask. The template sets out how adjustments are agreed and reviewed.

Sickness absence and returning to work

Time off for mental health is sickness absence, handled in the same way as physical illness. Since April 2026, statutory sick pay starts on the first day of sickness.

A return conversation and a phased return help people come back at a pace that works.

Mental health or wellbeing policy

A wellbeing policy usually covers physical, financial and mental health together, and what the company offers for each. A mental health policy is narrower and sets out what happens when someone is struggling.

Many employers have both. If you offer extra paid days for rest, our wellbeing day policy template covers them.

FAQ

Is a mental health policy a legal requirement?

No. You do have legal duties on work-related stress, disability and sick pay, and a policy shows how you meet them.

What should a mental health policy include?

How you prevent work-related stress, who employees can talk to, how adjustments are agreed, how time off and returns work and where to find support. It should also say how health information is kept confidential.

What is an employer's legal duty around stress at work?

You must assess the risk of work-related stress and act on it. HSE's Management Standards set out the six areas to look at.

When does a mental health condition count as a disability?

When it has a substantial effect on day to day life and lasts, or is likely to last, 12 months or more. Symptoms don't have to be present all the time.

What reasonable adjustments help with mental health?

Common ones are different hours, more breaks, working from home, a quieter workspace and a phased return. The right adjustment depends on what is causing the difficulty.

What changed with statutory sick pay in April 2026?

SSP is now paid from the first day of sickness, and the lower earnings limit has gone. The rate is £123.25 a week, or 80% of average weekly earnings if that is lower.

What support can employees get from Access to Work?

Access to Work offers a mental health support service with one to one sessions and a plan to help someone stay in work. Employees apply directly.

What is the difference between a mental health policy and a wellbeing policy?

A wellbeing policy covers what you offer to keep people well. A mental health policy covers what happens when someone is struggling.

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