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Supporting mental health in the public sector

CIPFA is investing in resources to help both students and members with their mental wellbeing, says Alison Sweeting

The Tokyo Olympics have highlighted the importance of mental health and wellbeing. We’ve seen multiple athletes taking time off from training and competing, sharing their personal experiences in the public realm and supporting each other over the past month.

While we of course want to see our national Olympians compete, seeing the world’s best athletes prioritise their mental health is an incredibly positive thing to witness.

Recent events serve as a reminder that everyone can face challenges to their mental health and wellbeing. At CIPFA, we’re pleased have recently expanded our support for students, members and the wider public sector with a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub.

We know that students’ and professionals’ experiences can vary widely – pressures can be high and workflows often demanding. Juggling different priorities and taking on new responsibilities can take a toll on our work-life balance and overall wellbeing. The same goes for our Mental Health First Aiders!

This focus on mental health and wellbeing is even more important as we approach a ‘new normal’ after more than a year of coronavirus restrictions and lockdowns. I know I’ve certainly struggled with the isolation, separation from friends and family, life and work disruptions and health concerns that we all endured in 2020 and 2021. The uncertainty around the future doesn’t make it any easier.

With these realities in mind, CIPFA is proud to be boosting its commitment to our students and members. We want this resource to support you as a public finance professional – whether future, present or past.

We’ve worked to ensure the hub takes into account the nuance of personal life too. It includes information and support on an array of wellbeing topics, including illness and disability, the workplace, student support, family care and support, abuse and addition, physical health and mental health.

A key feature of the new hub is an everchanging collection of videos from the wider CIPFA community sharing their mental health and wellbeing experiences. There are also tailored links to resources and local support services. The hub’s contributors also come from a wide range of backgrounds and cover a diverse array of experiences.

Perhaps more importantly, access to the hub is free for anyone and everyone. We’re also happy to say that usage of the platform is anonymous - you don’t even have to register to use it. We want this to be an accessible tool, one that everyone feels comfortable and secure using.

The way we work is changing. As our lifestyles and working patterns only look to become more dynamic, looking after our mental health couldn’t be more important. • Alison Sweeting is CIPFA’s Training Delivery Manager

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The latest professional insights report from ACCA, Leading Inclusion, discusses the important subjects of diversity, inclusion and equity. Ensuring that accountancy is a profession that is open to everyone.

bit.ly/leading-inclusion