A new website is being launched today by Shift, the national anti-stigma initiative, and Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health to help employers navigate the wealth of advice, and resources on managing mental health in the workplace.
The website www.shift.org.uk/reviewpanel gives immediate and easy access to the work of an Independent Review Panel set up a year ago to 'quality check' materials designed to help employers to manage mental health and promote mental wellbeing at work.
The panel, a team of employers, occupational health practitioners, researchers and mental health experts*, was brought together by Shift and Sainsbury Centre. The panel assesses the quality and impact of the materials.
Employers are increasingly aware of the extent of the problem and the costs in human and financial terms. The problem is finding out what in practical terms they can do about it. There is a lot of guidance available but there is currently nothing to sign post employers to the most appropriate advice.
Bob Grove, Sainsbury Centre director of employment, says "The idea for the panel originally came from employers who were being bombarded with material of varying quality with no way of knowing what exactly it was for, whether it was accurate and whether anyone had ever tried it out successfully. We believe that by developing a clear set of practical criteria and publishing reviews by and for people who actually use such materials we will help employers in all sectors to develop better strategies for supporting their staff. Ultimately this has to be good for everybody's business."
Reviews were submitted from a range of different organisations including the British Heart Foundation, Mind and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Think Fit, the submission from the British Heart Foundation was recommended by the panel as 'providing a very comprehensive and evidence-based approach to mental health in the workplace'.
Lisa Purcell, Heart Health Project manager at the British Heart Foundation says: "The BHF's 'Think fit! Think well!' pack helps employers address mental wellbeing in the workplace. The resource enables employers to develop programmes to tackle the often sensitive issues around mental wellbeing by providing guidance, practical solutions and signposting. We were keen for the Review Panel to review the resource as this provided credibility and quality assurance when promoting 'Think fit! Think Well!' to employers."
Gary Hogman, Programme Lead, Shift, which funded the Independent Review Panel says: "Shift exists to combat the stigma and discrimination that is directed towards people with mental health problems. By providing employers with the right information we hope to improve their understanding of mental health and as a result reduce the stigma that prevents people from finding work."
The website goes live on World Mental Health Day, 10 October. Also today the Employers' Forum on Disability is publishing a survey of line managers about their awareness of mental health issues. It shows that most line managers lack confidence in dealing with mental distress among the people they manage.
* The review panel membership:
The Review Panel was launched exactly a year ago on World Mental Health Day 2007, when Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, with funding from national anti-stigma and discrimination initiative Shift set up an expert panel to provide a 'quality check' on existing recruitment material produced by employers.
Shift is an initiative to tackle stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health issues in England. Its aim is to create a society where people who experience mental health problems enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other people.