Online resource helps change workplace attitudes towards mental health

The Lord Mayor’s Appeal Charity, which aims to find solutions London’s most pressing societal issues, has introduced an initiative to help change attitudes towards mental health in the workplace and improve employee wellbeing.

This Is Me was launched on World Mental Health Day 2016 and aims to reduce the stigma and dispel the myths surrounding mental health issues to improve employee wellbeing. The Green Ribbon campaign was later launched under the This Is Me initiative to #EndTheStigma around talking about mental health in the workplace. It encourages employees to wear green ribbons for Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May 2020) to show their support. The latest introduction to the campaign is an online training resource to support businesses; Wellbeing in the Workplace.

This Is Me encourages storytelling to normalise the disclosure of mental health issues, thus allowing staff to be open about their needs. This in turn facilitates a supportive, inclusive workplace.

The This Is Me campaign collaborated closely with Samaritans to develop the Wellbeing in the Workplace programme. Every day in the UK, 16 people die by suicide and every six seconds, someone in crisis contacts Samaritans for help. A spokesperson for The Lord Mayor’s Appeal comments:

“With calls to Samaritans helpline increasing by almost 40,000 per month over the last year, and workplace stress and anxiety a serious issue, the need to understand and support good emotional health in everyone is greater than ever before.”

Wellbeing in the Workplace teaches employees the skills to look after their emotional health and look out for others, before they reach crisis point. The resources allow individuals to learn at their own pace, at their desk or at home.

In as little as five minutes, workers can learn skills that will help them understand the importance of emotional health and have the confidence to reach out to a colleague, friend or family member who might be struggling to cope.

• 93% say it has helped them to recognise emotional distress in others
• 93% now recognise the importance of looking after their own wellbeing
• 90% now feel more confident approaching someone in emotional distress

Adam Spreadbury, from The Bank of England, comments: “I found this online training so valuable. It helps by giving practical tips about listening and giving support compassionately, without feeling the need to solve their problems.”

Holly Buckley of Leeds Building Society adds: “What Wellbeing in the Workplace taught me was that it’s safe to ask another human if they are OK, and not be afraid of their response. On a personal level, it gave me the confidence and courage to be more open with my team about my own mental health,”

More than 13,000 employees from over 900 organisations have completed the Wellbeing in the Workplace resources to date.

Matt Lock, head of corporate partnerships at Samaritans, states: “We know that listening saves lives. Our aim is to help people before they reach crisis point. Thanks to The Lord Mayor’s Appeal and PwC, we’ve created Wellbeing in the Workplace to give people access to key Samaritans skills to help build healthier, happier workplaces.

“People tell us that our Wellbeing in the Workplace tool suits the busy pace of work life while giving them the skills to look after their emotional health, and to look out for others too.”

Click here to find out more about the This Is Me campaign and its resources.