Good mental health at work is crucial not only for employees personal well-being but also for organisational success.
Studies have shown that 1 in 4 adults have a mental health issue* in any given year and 55% of all working days lost to sickness are mental health related.* More information is available on the Mental Health at Work website.
Behind these statistics are thousands of personal stories, many across the Liverpool City Region, this is why we are encouraging businesses across the region to recognise the importance of our mental health in the workplace.
Here are some of the helpful resources available:
World Mental Health Day is happening on Thursday 10 October 2024. The official theme set annually by the World Federation for Mental Health is:
“It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace”
Free workplace resources are available to download on the Mental Health UK website
Further information and resources are available from the Mental Health Foundation.
The Zero Suicide Alliance provides free online training that can help you recognise the signs that someone might be struggling, and how to start to help. They also provide more in-depth training and bespoke courses for organisations.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training helps people recognise when a colleague might be struggling. Like conventional first aid, it isn’t about learning to treat or diagnose mental health conditions, but how to offer initial support until professional help is in place or the problem is resolved.
Mental Health First Aid England is a social enterprise and the largest provider of MHFA training in the UK and Europe. It provides a range of paid-for courses, from basic mental health awareness to a First Aider qualification, in person and online.
Funding for MHFA and related courses may be available through the Be More’s Skills Brokerage Service. Liverpool City Region residents aged 19 or over can find current available MHFA course at the National Careers Service website. Courses may be free at the point of delivery or subsidised, depending on individual eligibility.
The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time.
Mind, the leading mental health charity, provides lots of helpful guidance for the workplace, including on how to take care of yourself and how to take care of your staff. It also provides a range of training courses.
The Life Rooms are a free NHS service that provides a safe a welcoming space in which to find support with a range of issues, including mental health. There are five sites across Liverpool and Sefton.
St. John Ambulance has developed a checklist to help employers track the progress they have made in meeting their duty of care to their employees, focused on mental wellbeing. It also provides Mental Health First Aid training and other courses.
If you feel unable to cope or no longer in control, you can contact Mersey Care for urgent help, including through 24/7 freephone lines.