GUEST POST: Improving mental health and wellbeing provisions in your organisation will ultimately save minds and save money.
by Beverley Flint
C&I Wellbeing, an initiative of Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, has been supporting a number of Knowledge Quarter partners in addressing the mental wellbeing of staff.
Sessions offered by Trust psychologists have ranged from how to introduce initial discussions on the topic of ‘mental health and wellbeing’ into your organisation, bite-size talks for staff on topics such as ‘Improving Sleep’ and ‘Managing Stress’, and Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training. A particularly popular session has been ‘Mental Health Awareness and Support Training’ for managers and Human Resources professionals.
KQ Partner, Pan Macmillan, launched its Mental Health Strategy in March this year. Prior to the launch, it used the expertise of senior C&I Wellbeing psychologists to equip its HR staff and Health and Safety leads with a solid basic understanding of stress and common mental health problems, along with some practical tips and tools on how to support staff. It has planned several more C&I wellbeing events as part of an ongoing commitment to staff wellbeing.
Clinical Psychologist Dr Lisa Cohen, who along with myself set up C&I Wellbeing, said: “Looking after an organisation’s biggest and most important asset, its workforce, is essential in ensuring that it provides the best service possible. It’s wonderful to see organisations taking such a proactive stance to address mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. However, there is still stigma attached to mental ill health and this remains a hurdle which needs addressing.”
Raakhi Vadera, Senior HR Adviser with Pan Macmillan, said of the mental health awareness training: “This training couldn’t have been better delivered or structured. Bev and Lisa really understand the tools that we need as an HR team, and also as managers to understand and support people around us. We have come away with the most useful and practical toolkit. I couldn’t recommend this training enough.”
C&I Wellbeing was set up in 2017 by NHS clinicians and has worked with a range of organisations, including theatre and arts venues, architect practices, consultancies and law firms (in and out of the KQ). Profits from the venture are being reinvested in caring for the Trust’s patients.
If you wish to have a no-obligation consultation regarding the wellbeing needs of your organisation, please contact us via our website or call us on 020 3317 6466.
EVENT
Community Champions: Wellbeing
Monday, 22 October 2018, 15:00–17:00
We warmly invite you to attend the next event in our Community Champions series. Our theme this time is Wellbeing and will cover physical and mental health, social isolation, broadening horizons and community safety.
Community Champions is a unique programme of networking events, offering charities and community groups across Camden and Islington the chance to make important and lasting connections with Knowledge Quarter partners, such as the British Museum, UCL, Google, the Francis Crick Institute, Conway Hall, The Place and many others.
Whether you work for a mental health charity, a support group, or you are the impetus behind a Yoga room in your organisation, the breadth and depth of knowledge in the Knowledge Quarter ensures you will leave this session with something valuable; a new connection, the beginnings of a collaboration, a new way of thinking about Wellbeing.
This is a free event, however places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Click here to book your tickets.
