If you were not able to attend the Employees Matter Mental Health Awareness breakfast, here are some of the key recommendations and a bit more about the people who made them.
Four ways to improve your organisation’s mental health – from those who know what makes the difference
1 – Head of work place wellbeing at MIND, Emma Mamo:
According to a survey of 2000 employees carried out at MIND people found work the single most stressful thing in their lives.
Recommendation: We need to become mentally fit organisations so that in turn our staff will be too. You cannot have just one or two staff members who champion mental health:
Action point: Develop a mental health strategy with key components like peer-to-peer support and a Wellness Action Plan.
2 – Poppy Jaman, Chief Executive of Mental Health First Aid England.
Between 2008 and 2010 there was an average of 579 suicides a year in London.
Recommendation: We are not as a whole mental health literate. We must bring about change by talking about the problem. Shame and fear stop people sharing their experience.
Action point: Nurture a culture of communication where mental health is part of the everyday conversations.
3 – Gail Rolfe, Journalist
Her story: Gail spoke movingly about her battle with breast cancer and the fact that she suffered from depression when she got the all clear – something that people didn’t understand.
Recommendation: Gail’s story shows how the hardest times may not be obvious to others. In order for people to get help it needs to be an environment where people feel they can ask for it.
Action point: Invest in awareness. Take a firm wide approach and nominate champions of mental health. Make a pledge at Time to Change
4 – Husband and wife, Ruth and David
Their story: Ruth and her husband David spoke about living with bi-polar from the perspective of carer as well as sufferer. The most important thing for them was honesty and openness in tackling these areas. Ruth explained the pain of hiding her experience from those around her and David spoke publically for the first time.
Recommendation: Show publically you are a mentally aware organisation
Action point: Display a mental health awareness logo or sign and organise mental health awareness weeks.
If you would like to improve your organisation’s mental health, contact us to organise a seminar.