Never forget, a problem shared is a problem halved and our partner Gerri Davenport is available to colleagues and clients 365 days a year!
Why Media takes mental health very seriously. We think it's a good idea to talk to someone within your team if you are struggling. There are many types of mental health issues. An issue can happen suddenly, because of a specific event in someone's life, or it can build up gradually over time.
Common mental health issues include:
- Stress (this is not classed as a medical condition but it can still have a serious impact on wellbeing)
- Depression
- Anxiety
Less common challenges include:
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
To reduce some of the common mental health issues Why Media likes to take its team members on fun days out to forget about work for a day and focus on themselves and having fun with other work colleagues.
The Law
Why Media have a 'duty of care'. This means we must do all we reasonably can to support our employees' health, safety and wellbeing. This includes:
- Making sure the working environment is safe
- Protecting colleagues from discrimination
- Carrying out risk assessments
A mental health issue can be considered a disability under the law (Equality Act 2010) if all of the following apply:
- It has a 'substantial adverse effect' on the life of an employee (for example, they regularly cannot focus on a task, or it takes them longer to do)
- It lasts at least 12 months or is expected to
- It affects their ability to do their normal day-to-day activities (for example, interacting with people, following instructions or keeping to set working times)
A mental health issue can be considered a disability even if there are no symptoms all the time, or the symptoms are better at some times than at others.
Why Media intend to acknowledge and support employees who are struggling. We want to identify issues and work with the employee to resolve them.
Why talking openly about mental health is important
If colleagues feel they can talk openly about mental health, problems are less likely to build up. This could lead to:
- less time off for a mental health issue
- improved morale at work
Why Media encourages and promotes an open environment at work. Employees need to feel confident and supported if they choose to be open about their mental health issues. It is your choice whether to disclose any sensitive personal information that should remain confidential.
Why Media will keep records of sickness absence and use them to analyse the causes of absence. Why Media will promote a supportive working environment with regular catch-ups.
Sometimes colleagues may need to take some time off as sick leave due to mental ill-health. If this becomes the case Why Media will:
- Keep in contact
- Explore adjustments to working conditions or to the working environment to aid their return such as flexible hours or changes to their responsibilities
- Develop a recovery action plan with them to identify the signs of mental distress, who you may need to contact, and what support would help
For more information and support please visit https://www.mind.org.uk/
