You are not alone

As we approach the end of our Mental Health Awareness Week we want to reiterate how important it is to seek help if you are experiencing mental health issues, and highlight how much support there is available to colleagues, should they need it. 

Traditionally, mental health has been a difficult and often awkward subject to broach with friends, family and colleagues. We always seem to be able to talk freely about having broken bones or physical ailments, but when it comes to our mental health, it’s not always so obvious that something is wrong.

Mental health issues can affect all of us in some way at some point in our lives – either indirectly or directly via family members, friends or colleagues. Be it a stressful or traumatic incident, a dramatic life change such as the arrival of a new baby or a relationship breaking down, a teenager struggling with social media or an elderly relative experiencing the onset of dementia, mental health conditions can impact every aspect of our lives both at home and at work.

Royal Mail believes everyone deserves the right to be supported through difficult times and to get the help or treatment they need. Maybe you feel anxious, worried or stressed. Maybe you’re not sleeping or eating properly. However it manifests, if you are not feeling your usual self and you don’t know what to do about it, you are not alone.

If we are unable to get the right help and support early on some people learn to hide or bury their problems, which in turn can take up more energy trying to be our ‘usual selves.’ Many people who do seek support often say that they wish they had done so sooner. It’s important to remember that it’s never too late to ask for help. Talking to someone and starting that conversation is the first step: here are some options:

The First Class Support helpline is available 24/7 and is completely confidential. Call 0345 266 5060 for direct access to mental health support as well as to receive financial, relationship or legal advice:

• Mental health support – Call and speak with someone trained to help you immediately with your mental health. Support can help with any work-related or personal issues in a non-judgemental and confidential environment. A range of care is available and can be provided by telephone or face-to-face
• Legal signposting - Legal information is available via telephone with a legal expert (for up to 20 minutes) on a wide range of areas including, criminal, consumer, motor, family/divorce issues, neighbour disputes. Where potential personal injury claims occur, such as for medical, injury and psychological distress, the legal expert can refer an employee on to another provider.
• Practical help - Advice on how to clear debts is available, even large debts which are out of control. Understand government benefits, resolve accommodation issues and receive guidance on accessing elderly and child care, cancer and disability support. Domestic violence is an issue that can sometimes occur and support and guidance can be provided to those impacted.

The Feeling First Class portal (code FFC1 to register) has helpful support content for your mental and physical health 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. For more information, go to www.rmgfirstclasssupport.co.uk.

Additional support

• For urgent support in a crisis: call the Samaritans on 116 123 (open 24/7) or in the case of a suicide or other emergency situation, ring 999, or 9999 from a Royal Mail landline.
• Rowland Hill Fund: 0345 600 4586 www.rowlandhillfund.org. The RHF offers financial aid to colleagues, pensioners and their families in times of need.
• Neyber: Through My Bundle’s Financial Wellbeing option you can access debt consolidation loans and financial education. Log into My Bundle through PSP or visit mybundle.myroyalmail.com.
• Stepchange: Offers expert, tailored advice and practical solutions to problem debt. Contact the UK’s leading debt charity on 0800 138 1111 or visit www.stepchange.org.