Mental Health Support

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for 99 percent of businesses in the UK and employ 60 percent of the private sector workforce. The Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub encourages SME directors to join the growing number of UK companies taking the initiative on mental health at work – it makes good business sense and is the right thing to do. On this page, you will find a few useful resources and organisations that can assist you, your employees and your business at zero cost. These cover a wide number of areas of support for both employees and employers alike. These cover different areas of wellbeing including mental, physical, financial and more. 

 

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ABLE FUTURES 

If you struggle with mental health difficulties it may mean you have more  bad days than good days. We can help you manage your mental health at  work so you can enjoy more good days. The Access to Work Mental Health Support Service is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions meaning there is no charge to use this service. The service is 100% confidential and can be accessed face-to-face or over the phone – we will work around you and your routine.

Contact us today for more information, we promise to get back to you  within one working day.

Freephone 0800 321 3137 8am to 10.30pm Monday to Friday.

hello@able-futures.co.uk

www.able-futures.co.uk

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EVERYONE HEALTH 

Everyone Health is a division of SLM Ltd, a company with 30 years’ experience of delivering high quality community health, wellbeing and leisure services who have been commissioned by Staffordshire County Council.

Everyone Health are working with businesses across Staffordshire to ensure that employees can receive their free NHS Health Check. NHS Health Checks are available to people aged 40-74, who do not have a pre-existing condition.  They should be done every five years.

Interested businesses with a high proportion of employees over 40, can contact Everyone Health to arrange an on-site NHS Health Check Day for staff.  The check involves a blood pressure check and BMI calculation, as well as a finger prick blood test for high cholesterol.  The full NHS Health Check takes around 30 minutes to complete.

Everyone Health provide an appointment schedule before the day, allowing employees to book a specific time slot.  This helps to minimise disruption to the working day.  All staff receive a record of their results, as well as tailored lifestyle advice in line with their readings.

For members of staff who do not meet the eligibility criteria, including those who live outside of Staffordshire, Everyone Health can provide a mini ‘Health MOT’.  This includes a blood pressure check, BMI calculation and tailored lifestyle advice.

Everyone Health has worked with several large businesses across Staffordshire, including: Florette, Hobbycraft Distribution, Capita, Holland and Barrett, Drayton Manor, Alton Towers and Pentalver.

Hannah Burgess, HR Manager at Drayton Manor said, “We were really pleased with the uptake of employees wanting to have a health check carried out and feel that the event was a real success. We had lots of positive feedback”.

To arrange an on-site NHS Health Check Day, call either Emma Mennell on 07849 092 173 or email EmmaMennell@everyonehealth.co.uk or call Bethany Albutt on 07849 092 193 or email BethanyAlbutt@everyonehealth.co.uk.

www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Business/Workplace-health  

• Sign up via the Workplace Health Webpages:

https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Business/Workplace-health/Receive-workplace-health-updates.aspx

• Keep informed about national and local campaigns, resources and guidance, to support the health of your workforce.

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Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Suicide Prevention Programme – Mental Health First Aid Training

Suicide is a major public health issue. Each death from suicide is an individual tragedy and a loss to society. Suicide can be devastating to the surviving family psychologically, economically and spiritually. In Staffordshire suicides make up around 1% of all deaths. They are the second most common cause of death among young people aged 16-24. They are also the third most common cause of death in people aged 25-49.

We are currently re-working the MHFA training due to the current situation.  This will now be an online version of the course but still interactive with a small group to replicate classroom training as closely as possible.

Further information will be posted here once available however to register your interest in this fully-funded course, please contact Lorna Scott – Lorna.Scott@combined.nhs.uk

Read the Suicide Prevention Strategy Devised by Staffordshire Public Health, in partnership with Staffordshire Health and Wellbeing Board Here

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The Land Trust – Green Angels Courses – Environmental Education & Bramble and Elder

Gain a sense of ‘escape’ and reverse the effects of everyday stresses and poor work-life balance by discovering nature’s ways to wellbeing.  For obvious reasons, we have been unable to deliver any of our usual Green Angels activities on site at either Hassall Green Nature Reserve or Silverdale Country Park since the lockdown started in March. 

We have been working hard to get activities up and running again in a safe way, and I am very pleased to share with you that we have now scheduled for two programmes to start at Silverdale Country Park, Newcastle Under Lyme during July and August. Please click on the course titles or view the attached posters for more information on each course:

For information about other courses across Hassall Green and Silverdale, visit our webpage.

How are we delivering these courses safely?

All activities have been reviewed and risk assessed fully with our trainers, so that they can be delivered in a manner which is covid-safe. More details will be provided about how the sessions will be delivered safely upon application, but the key elements to note are:

• Small groups with fewer than 6 people
• Socially distanced session set-ups
• Handwashing and sanitiser facilities
• PPE

Please note that you will be asked to confirm that neither you, nor anyone in your household have any COVID symptoms before being confirmed onto any Green Angels programme.

How to book your place

If you would like to apply for either of these courses, please complete all three of the following steps:

1. Respond to this email, letting me know which course you would like to apply for
2. Ensure you have completed the online Application Form
3. Ensure you have completed the online Welfare Form

Please contact Josie Muncaster on 07920 139209 OR send your completed application and welfare forms to josiemuncaster@thelandtrust.org.uk,

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WORKPLACE HEALTH & WELLBEING BUSINESS ACCREDITATION SCHEME – HEALTHWORKS STOKE-ON-TRENT

Open to any organisation in Stoke-on-Trent with a commitment to making a measurable difference.

The network provides:

– Support with identifying  health and wellbeing needs for your workplace

– Support with planning activities to improve workplace health and wellbeing

– Access or signposting to appropriate support services

– Training for your nominated workplace health and wellbeing champions

– Training, sharing and networking events

More information on the scheme including the benefits for employers is available here.

Please contact Healthworks@stoke.gov.uk

** Please note that this scheme is for businesses based within Stoke-on-Trent only** 

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Workplace health tools and employer toolkits by Public Health England

PHE and Healthy Working Future’s Workplace health needs assessment document provides practical advice on workplace health and a tool for carrying out workplace health needs assessments for employers of all types and sizes. PHE has also developed multiple employer toolkits, in partnership with BITC, to help employers support their workforce to be productive and have good health and wellbeing.

VIEW THE EMPLOYER TOOKITS HERE

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Stress Management

The Health and Safety Executive defines stress as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them”. Studies have shown that stress is closely related to the degree of control an individual has over their work and personal circumstances – self-controlled pressure can be tolerated at a very high level, while the threshold for imposed pressure is lower.

Different people react to stress in different ways but there are commonly experienced symptoms which can alert you to the fact that you may be under stress.
These include:
• Health – headaches, indigestion, stomach and intestinal disorders, disrupted sleep patterns, change in appetite levels, muscle tension, exhaustion and skin problems.
• Emotions – feelings of being overwhelmed and unable to cope, a persistent sense of worry and anxiety
• Behaviour – a tendency to react irritability, or take your anger and frustration out on others, an inability to think clearly or make decisions, a loss of creativity, obsessive habits such as nail biting, excessive smoking, and/or abuse of alcohol.
• Relationships – difficulties with people either at work or at home
• Work – a decrease in job satisfaction, growing demotivation, communications breakdowns or an excessive focus on unimportant or unproductive tasks.

All these symptoms occur in normal daily life; they only indicate stress when several occur at the same time without an obvious cause, or when you experience them persistently or more often than you would expect. Regrettably, while it may be possible to hide many symptoms while outside the workplace, in the working environment this will be more difficult, further increasing stress levels.

What is the Stress Management Society?
The site offers an introduction to stress at work, with advice given on how to identify and deal with stress
What is the UK National Work Stress Network?
The network aims to raise awareness of the causes and cost of work-related stress. The site includes copies of the quarterly newsletter.

 

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES IN STAFFORDSHIRE

There are many Local voluntary organisations which offer support for individuals.

• Staffordshire Mental Health Directory – http://www.stokementalhealth.info/startpage.aspx – The website is designed to provide information and contact details about local organisations and projects within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent where you can look for advice and support.

Other organisations offering specific support locally are :-

• Brighter Futures – www.brighter-futures.org.uk
• Burton & District Mind – www.burtonmind.co.uk
• North Staffs Mind – www.nsmind.org.uk
• Together for Mental Wellbeing (Tamworth, Lichfield and East Staffordshire Your Way) – www.together-uk.org
• Changes – www.changes.org.uk
• Samaritans (24 hour helpline) – www.samaritans.org