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Over the years, MHAW has raised awareness of topics including stress, sleep and relationships and this year, the theme is body image. Lauren Mawson, HR Business Partner at PACT HR, explores this significant awareness week. |
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Why do you need to know about mental health?
According to a recent survey conducted by the CIPD, mental ill health is now in the top three of causes for both short and long term absence in at least a third of organisations, with stress-related absence also on the increase.
A recent poll carried out by the National Education Union (NEU) also found that 56% of respondents reported their work-life balance as having worsened in the past year.
With these startling facts in mind, there is a clear business case for the effective management of staff wellbeing, and companies who do yield outcomes which include: |
- Increased staff morale, engagement and productivity
- Increased retention levels
- Reduced sickness absence and the associated costs
How can you get involved?
There are many things you can do to start to increase awareness within your organisation:
- Download free resources from the Mental Health Foundation website and display these in your offices and staff rooms.
- Get involved in MHAW on social media
- Are you currently managing a member of staff who is struggling with their mental health? Signpost them to Remploy’s mental health workplace support service. Also, PACT HR along with the Employee Health & Wellbeing Unit can assess how you can support your employees in managing their mental health. Your dedicated HR Business Partner will work with you to explore any reasonable adjustments.
- PACT HR offer a variety of training sessions on topics including Managing Stress and Wellbeing and Personal Resilience and we can also deliver in-house and bespoke training to meet your school’s needs. Courses can be found on our website here.
- PACT HR’s new Wellbeing Guidance will be available shortly and advises on both mental and physical health whilst signposting to a range of support services, including charities and digital Apps.
- Our Consultancy team can support you in developing a survey to obtain a baseline of your staff morale and wellbeing, with a view to offering support tailored to the needs of your workforce and will continue to work with you in evaluating the impact of any interventions.
What about pupils?
You can also support your pupils by getting involved in Wellbeing Week, a new fundraising initiative for schools aiming to provide young people with the tools to manage their mental health. Download your free pack here.
PACT HR know that many young people face the same issues as adults with their mental health, especially at peak times such as prior to SAT’s, GCSE’s and A-Levels. We have developed a short booster session on resilience. Contact Kate.Earnshaw@bradford.gov.uk to find out more. |