Buckinghamshire businesses invited to sign Employer’s Pledge to improve how we think and act about mental health in the workplace.
On Thursday 25th November, Buckinghamshire’s mental health anti-stigma campaign, Champion the Change, will be marking its fourth awareness day event called Bucks Big Chat. The campaign will be launching a new Employer’s Pledge to help support local business to take action and develop a positive mental health culture in the workplace.
All Buckinghamshire based businesses are invited to take positive action to help end mental health stigma and discrimination by signing the Employer’s Pledge and committing to agreed actions unique to their business. The Employer’s Pledge is a free form of support for businesses enabling them to raise awareness of mental health, guidance for line managers and providing staff with information on where and how to get support for their mental health.
One in six British workers are affected by mental health problems each year and mental health illness is the leading cause of sickness absence (1). Culturally we understand that prevention is better than a cure and that mental health illness left unsupported can delay recovery.
All businesses who sign up to the pledge will receive access to free resources and support to help address and reduce mental ill health caused or worsened by work. They will also be provided with tools and information to help support individuals with their mental health in order to thrive at work. Once each business has signed the pledge, they can have their logo displayed on Buckinghamshire Mind’s website to show the community they have committed to help end mental health stigma.
Andrea McCubbin, Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Mind said, “If an employee experiences poor mental health at work, both the employee and employer should feel empowered to take appropriate action. That’s why we are calling upon businesses across Buckinghamshire to commit to changing the way we think and act about mental health in the work place by signing-up to our Employer’s Pledge. Our aim is to help organisations, whether small or large, take the first steps to starting conversations about mental health in the workplace, helping employees facing mental health problems feel supported and safe accessing help.”
For more information, please click here and complete the contact form and Bucks Mind will get in touch with you.