Huntingdonshire District Council is proud to sign the Time to Change Employer Pledge, a growing social movement run by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness to support people to talk about mental health.
The Time to Change Employer Pledge is a commitment to changing the way we all think and act about mental health in the workplace. For the past 12 months, the council has implemented and continues to develop on a network of 32 Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA). As well as in a crisis, Mental Health First Aiders are valuable in providing early intervention help for someone who may be developing a mental health issue. MHFAs’ are not trained to be therapists or psychiatrists but can offer support through non-judgemental listening and guidance.
In Autumn 2018, the council developed a Mental Health action plan to demonstrate how as an authority we take mental health seriously. Signing the #timetochange pledge validates our commitment to change how we think and act about mental health in the workplace and make sure that colleagues who are facing problems feel supported.
Chairman of Huntingdonshire District Council, Cllr Richard West, said: "It is brilliant to see mental health in the workplace is being taken seriously, with one in four British workers affected by conditions like anxiety, depression and stress every year. Employers must do everything they can to support their workforce’s mental wellbeing.
"From small actions to larger shifts, the council endeavours to create an environment in which mental health conditions can be discussed openly and people feel they have access to the right support as and when they might need it. Mental health is a significant issue in every organisation and one we cannot ignore."
The commitment of signing the Employer Pledge is supported by a 12-month Employer Action plan, including invitations to masterclasses on key topics and themes in workplace wellbeing.