We are happy to be working alongside Hull City Council to encourage local employers to sign a pledge to support the way they think and act about mental health in the workplace.
The scheme, which was launched by Time to Change in 2013, has already seen over 900 companies from across the country sign up for better mental health. By signing the pledge an employer will demonstrate their commitment to change how mental health is perceived in the workplace, and make sure that employees who are facing these problems feel supported.
Emma Dallimore, Interim Chief Executive at Hull and East Yorkshire Mind said “We are really happy to be launching this new initiative in partnership with Hull City Council. 1 in 6 workers are affected by mental health every year. By signing the pledge and supporting mental health in the workplace, employers can make a real difference to sickness absence rates, presenteeism levels, staff wellbeing and productivity.
Councillor Gwen Lunn, portfolio holder for Public Health at Hull City Council, said: “Many people experience mental health problems at work and helping to support employees to manage these should be a top priority for every employers. When good mental health support is in place at work, everyone benefits. This pledge will empower employers to work collectively with specialists to put help in place and improve the mental wellbeing of their workforce”.
After signing the pledge, we work with employers to develop an action plan to get their employees talking about mental health. This could include small actions such as running events for World Mental Health Day, to larger ones such as training line managers so they feel comfortable having conversations about mental health with their fellow colleagues.
Since signing the Time to Change Employer Pledge:
- 95% said it had a positive impact on their organisation
- 80% of organisations agreed that it had helped to raise awareness of mental health amongst staff
- 50% reported a rise in staff disclosure of mental health problems, which helps to intervene early and prevent long term sickness
If you’re interested in signing the pledge, or just learning a little more about the project please visit https://heymind.org.uk/timetochange or call Natalie, Time to Change Project Officer on 01482 240200.
