Breaking the silence
Earlier this month, we used World Mental Health Day to remind colleagues to be aware of the importance of mental well-being.
The annual awareness day was a reminder to all of us that mental health problems are not only widespread, but at times disabling, and often hidden. It’s also important however, to recognise that mental health issues can either last a lifetime or come and go at will. All of us are affected by mental health issues either indirectly or directly.
In the UK as a whole, one in four people will experience a mental health issue in any given year. Sadly, many people still prefer to remain silent. We want to change this and together, break the silence.
As a business, we know that many of our people will be impacted by mental health challenges at any one time. We want to do all we can to support colleagues, family and friends, and raise awareness of how important it is for all of us to take action to help ourselves.
It’s crucial that we get to a place where everyone feels comfortable talking about any mental health issues that might be affecting them, and are aware of the internal and external support services available to them.
The finance team have recognised the need to talk and have made a wonderfully honest film talking about personal challenges and the need for all of us to do all we can to give mental health parity with physical health.
Click here to view the film.
Louise Watson, finance director, said: ‘In Finance we are recognising the need to talk about and normalise the conversation about mental health. By raising the profile and creating toolkits to support managers and colleagues we are aspiring to end the stigma associated with mental health and start talking more openly about our mental well-being.’
Need support?
The ‘First Class Support’ helpline is available by calling 0800 6888 777 for direct access to counselling services as well as to receive financial, relationship or legal advice. The helpline is fully confidential and available 24/7.
The Feeling First Class portal (code FFC1 to register) has helpful mental and physical heath support content as well as the mental health eLearning ‘Because Healthy Minds Matter’. Visit www.feelingfirstclass.co.uk or download the app from iTunes or the Google Play store.
