A new framework to promote wellbeing in workforces across County Durham is being introduced on World Mental Health Day (Thursday 10 October).
Durham County Council’s public health team has joined forces with the authority’s economic and development arm, Business Durham, and the County Durham Partnership, to produce a set of actions to help employers tackle mental health stigma and discrimination in the workplace and to improve employee access to mental health training and support.
In County Durham, about 80,000 adults are estimated to have a common mental health disorder, with 12 per cent reporting a long-term mental health problem.
The Framework for Good Workforce Mental Health recognises that County Durham businesses are powered by hard working people, and that it is important that workplaces are safe, healthy and committed to promoting wellbeing. While large well-resourced organisations are more likely to be able to provide good mental health training and employee support, micro, small and medium sized businesses may not be as well as equipped to offer this. Smaller businesses may also be more adversely affected by issues such as staff absence.
The public and private sector organisations that make up County Durham Partnership are committed to ensuring all employees can benefit from mental health training and support. And to help businesses achieve the objectives within the framework, they are working with representatives from Business Durham and other specialist business organisations to develop programmes which can be accessed by eligible organisations in County Durham.
The partnership is also exploring how training and development resources can be shared within the county to increase access to learning and development opportunities, raise awareness of relevant issues and promote efficiency. This includes the promotion of toolkits which will help organisations support and promote the mental health and wellbeing of their employees.
Cllr Lucy Hovvels MBE, Cabinet member for adults and health at Durham County Council, said: “It’s important we do as much as we can to help businesses create working environments where their employees are safe, happy and able to access support if they are struggling with their mental health.
“In County Durham, more than 51,000 adults have depression and many more are coping with other mental health problems. We don’t want mental health stigma to prevent people staying in work. Neither do we want County Durham workplaces to have a negative effect on employees’ wellbeing. That’s why the toolkit will be such a valuable resource, allowing small and medium sized businesses to gain the specialist training they need.”
Earlier this year, County Durham was selected as one of eight new national Time to Change Hubs. As part of this, the council received funding to support communities, workplaces and schools to take action to end negative attitudes and behaviours towards people experiencing mental health problems.
This week also sees two more County Durham organisations making a commitment to changing the way they think and act about mental health in the workplace by signing the Time to Change Employer Pledge. With support from the council, Karbon Homes and Durham Community Action are the latest to sign the pledge, joining organisations across the county.
The new framework builds on this work, along with the success of the Better Health at Work Awards, which rewards businesses that deliver activities to promote positive health. County Durham has the highest take-up of 11 North East local authorities.
To find out more about the mental health support on offer in County Durham, visit www.durham.gov.uk/mentalhealth
