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This World Mental Health Day (10 October), hygiene specialist Christeyns is getting behind the campaign, continuing its promotion of mental wellbeing in the workplace.
Six years ago in 2018, Christeyns set out to champion mental health, identifying several training activities, resources, and assistance programmes that are now in place across the UK group of companies. A big part of this commitment was to enrol and train volunteer mental health first aiders, (MHFAs), of which there are now 25 across the business.
The role of a MHFA in the workplace is to be a confidential point of contact for employees who are experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. MHFAs are valuable in providing early intervention help for someone who may be developing a mental health issue.
“In our business, health and safety is an absolute priority,” states Christeyns HR Manager Sarah Stringer. “Mental health wellbeing forms part of this agenda and is just as important as physical illness. As an employer, we have a large part to play in building awareness and understanding. Over the past few years, we have invested a considerable portion of our HR budget into this important area.”
For many companies the challenge lies in bridging the gap between positive intent and meaningful action. Being aware of the issue and instigating open discussion is one thing but it is practical, actionable solutions that are required in order to gain results.
This year the theme for World Mental Health Day is Workplace mental health and Christeyns has been doubling its efforts to create awareness and encourage conversation across the organisation. This has included a “Happiness at Work” week, a visit by the MHFA team to mental health charity Mind and a focus on Production departments in the business to better get to know team members and encourage more MHFA volunteers.
“It is crucial that we ensure all members of our workforce are equally informed and are able to understand and identify potential mental health issues,” continues Stringer. “Although a lot of great work has been carried out in society to build awareness of mental health over recent years, we still have a crucial role to play in the workplace.”
Chemical and laundry engineering specialist Christeyns firmly believes it is part of an organisations’ responsibilities to take a proactive, preventive approach to employee mental ill health and is fully supportive of World Mental Health Day.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/world-mental-health-day
