Mental Health at Work reaches 100,000 user milestone
CEO, Mind
Six months after the launch of Mental Health at Work, I am delighted to report we have passed a significant milestone – over 100,000 people have taken action to improve mental health in their workplace by visiting our website. Here, they can find and make use of the more than 250 resources and articles from a variety of experts, business leaders and professional bodies.
Back in September 2018 the website was launched by The Duke of Cambridge, joined by António Horta Osório, the CEO of Lloyd’s Banking Group. In front of over 100 employers, mental health experts and key stakeholders, we demonstrated our welcoming, simple-to-use website. It’s aimed at anyone looking to improve mental wellbeing in their workplace, with the goal of helping them to get the conversation moving in their organisation.
And what an impact six months has made. Since then, we’ve been able to bring some of the best mental health resources and content to a wider audience who can make the best use of it. One video from Dorset MindStart the conversation One of the first, and easiest, things you can do to start improving mental health at work is simply to start a conversation. In this video, people from various industries talk about the importance of talking to someone. By: Dorset Mind View resource, for example, has proved particularly popular.
This video combines some of the most moving moments - all sorts of people from many different industries, collected together to make one powerful point: just talk to someone.
James Martin, European Bid Manager, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, has told us his firm has found these resources very valuable. He believes that allowing people to talk, especially in the workplace, is one of the most important steps in building a healthy mental wellbeing culture, and has used our site to start essential conversations.
We’re very excited to see these resources being put into action. For example, WHSmith began using Time To Change materials—from postcards, to tea bags, to posters — all aimed at making it clear that it’s OK to talk about mental health. Alison Garbutt, Head of Strategic Projects, WHSmith, told us the firm benefits from using Mind’s Wellness Action PlansGuides to wellness action plans Wellness action plans are an easy way to help support your own mental health at work and that of your team members. Mind has guidance and templates to get you started, for both employees and line managers. By: Mind View resource regularly, and Mental Health First Aid England’s free Line Managers’ ResourceMental Health First Aid (MHFA) England Line Managers’ Resource This resource is regarded as highly valuable by line managers across private, public and third-sector organisations to help them create healthier workplaces. By: Mental Health First Aid England View resource.
And pladis, one of the world’s leading snacking companies, has committed to training all 300 of its line managers in mental health awareness in the next year , as well as offering education to all employees. It will be using training providers such as Mind and Mental Health First Aid alongside resources for line managers.
While these are positive developments, we know that much more needs to be done to ensure every organisation can have open discussions about mental health.
We’ve been shining a spotlight on individual sectors each month – with a toolkit designed specifically for the construction industry Building mental health in construction Construction can be a high-pressure industry, and employers are realising that staff mental health is a priority. Building Mental Health can show you where to start. View toolkit launched in March, providing advice, training and links to resources.
Sport Mental health in sport and physical activity Sport, physical activity and recreation have unique challenges for mental health, but there's a lot that can help. The Sport and Recreation Alliance show how. View toolkit is our current focus, to be followed by small and medium-sized organisations. In May, we are going to build on the work of Mind’s fantastic Blue LightBlue Light wellbeing framework The Blue Light Wellbeing Framework is designed to help you assess and address the unique challenges that can affect the mental health and wellbeing of people working in the emergency services. By: Oscar Kilo View resource Programme, to further promote a healthy mental wellbeing culture within the emergency services.
In the meantime, the Mental Health at Work team continue to add resources aimed at a wide variety of organisations, roles and functions. Take a few minutes to check out the latest additions, and ensure you stay up to date by signing up to the Mental Health at Work newsletter.
