The Business Case
Mental Health Support as a Commercial Decision
For Irish SMEs, the cost of inaction is often hidden — but significant.
The Irish Context
- According to the Health and Safety Authority, work-related stress remains one of the leading causes of workplace absence in Ireland.
- Research from IBEC indicates that employee absence can cost employers approximately €818 per employee per year on average, with stress-related absence being a significant contributor.
- The World Health Organization estimates that for every €1 invested in scaled treatment for common mental health issues, there is a €4 return in improved health and productivity.
For SMEs, even one key employee experiencing burnout can disrupt workflow, morale, and client delivery.
Where ROI Shows Up
- Reduced Absenteeism
Early psychological intervention reduces the likelihood of stress-related sick leave. - Reduced Presenteeism
Employees working while mentally unwell are significantly less productive — often costing more than absence. - Improved Retention
Replacing an employee can cost between 6–9 months of their salary when recruitment, onboarding, and lost productivity are considered. - Stronger Leadership Capacity
When managers receive support, decision-making improves and team stability strengthens.
A Practical Comparison
Investment: 6-session support package = €390
A Simple, Sustainable Model
- One week of stress-related absence
- Recruitment fees
- Lost client delivery time
- Reduced productivity across a team
For SMEs operating on tight margins, proactive mental health support is not a luxury — it is risk management.
A Simple, Sustainable Model
- Agree referral pathway
- Employees access confidential support
- HR retains oversight of utilization (without breaching confidentiality)
- Review and adjust as needed
- No unnecessary complexity. Just effective support.
Begin your transformative journey towards better mental health
Mental Health Change is a growing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that aims to bring a fresh voice to Ireland’s mental health/work sector, by engaging with and empowering employees across different sectors; making a real difference in tackling depression and anxiety in the work place.
