Where next for mental health and workplace wellbeing? Maybe Advocacy Focus can help… and Footasylum to deliver tailored, in house training and support. Our Gold Workplace Award from the charity Mind, shows our commitment to delivering wellbeing initiatives that work.”
Mental health has suffered because of the pandemic with 1 in 5 people now experiencing some form of depression, more than double the numbers pre COVID19. Experts have called on all organisations and sectors to ‘ramp up’ support as they warn of an impending mental health crisis.
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ancashire based charity, Advocacy Focus, offers mental health training for employers and has been helping businesses support their employees during the pandemic - but there’s still a long way to go. CEO Justine Hodgkinson says: “We are encouraged by the businesses who have reached out to us to help them with their workplace wellbeing initiatives, but as restrictions ease, it’s something every employer needs to plan and budget for.”
Statistics show that employers could be doing more Statistics from early this year, show that 28% of home workers say working from home due to the pandemic has negatively affected their mental health and nearly half of all critical workers experienced anxiety because of their work. Justine continues: “The past year has been challenging for many, with a quarter of the working population furloughed, 37% of critical workers with too much work, and many of us adjusting to hybrid working, we really need to make workplace wellbeing a priority.” Almost half of the workforce that returned to work after furlough, felt that they had not been communicated with effectively or consulted with and many felt anxious. How can Advocacy Focus help? Our charity offers its own unique and interactive mental health training for employers, as well as accredited Mental Health First Aid (MHFA England) training for Adults and Young People.
Above: CEO Justine Hodgkinson
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Justine says: “We can work with you to help you get to grips with a new working world. We have worked with the likes of Citizen’s Advice
“With Advocacy Focus you are in a safe pair of hands. We have over 20 years’ experience of challenging stigma and encouraging conversations, and a dedicated team committed to changing the story about mental health. Never has this been more crucial.”
• For more information on Advocacy Focus’ Mental Health Training, visit: www.advocacyfocus.org.uk or email: training@advocacyfocus.org.uk • Advocacy Focus also deliver free Mental Health in the Workplace Webinars, sign up at www. advocacyfocus.org.uk/newsletter to learn more. SOURCES:
“Impact of COVID19 on working lives, CIPD. co.uk” “Working from Home – 28% say it’s negative to their mental health, onrec.com” “Emerging Evidence of Health Inequalities and COVID19 – March 2021, healthy.org.uk” 5 Star Training “Really beneficial for myself and knowing what to discuss with my staff.” - Attendee, May 2021 “I really liked how open the speakers were with their experiences and that there isn’t necessarily a ‘perfect’ way to deal with this area” - Attendee, May 2021 “I loved every minute” - Attendee, May 2021
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 89
