Supporting your emotional wellbeing
Of 2.6m people on long term health benefits, 43% have a mental or behavioural disorder as their primary condition. Sickness/ab
sence costs the UK economy £8.4bn annually (No Health Without Mental Health). It is estimated that one in four of the general UK population and one in six of the UK workforce are affected by mental ill health.
Health on your Mind
is an initiative conceived and funded by the Department of Health with the Civil Service Benevolent Fund, developed from the "No Health Without Mental Health" cross-government strategy, aiming to promote and support mental health and wellbeing Civil Service-wide. It brings together relevant organisations including employee assistance programmes, the major mental health charities, trades unions, NHS Choices, occupational health providers, and others such as CSSC, Benenden and HASSRA related to the wellbeing of civil servants.
Health on your Mind
is being spearheaded by CSBF, whose sole purpose is to support individuals in the Civil Service community. It is the only organisation focused on communicating with civil servants on wellbeing issues. As an independent charity it is well placed to support the management staff welfare agenda without being perceived as part of it, and to work in partnership with other relevant charities.
CSBF's new Health on your Mind channel was launched on October 10th 2011. Managers and staff can explore web-based information toolkits on mental health issues, also available in printed form, specifically tailored to meet their needs at work, at home with their families and in their wider communities.
The toolkits draw together the best and the most informative material from reputable and respected organisations - CSBF has syndicated with NHS Choices whose website and offline resources are likely to form the first tier provider of support. Other organisations including DH, National Autistic Society, MIND UK, Anxiety UK, Depression Alliance, MDF, Family Action and RETHINK will help us to identify the 'best of the best' for inclusion in the toolkits.
By using the toolkits, individuals can decide where to go for further guidance, advice, information and practical help as well as find out how to look after their conditions, remain effective at work and manage their home lives. Line managers are directed towards support from their own managers, HR business teams and EAPs as well as from external sources of help for managing mental health difficulties at work.
A more specific service for individuals is provided by our Health on your Mind team of dedicated CSBF staff who help them to assess their own situation and may recommend possible action, including one or more of:
- working with any one of our partnering organisations (initially Depression Alliance, Anxiety UK, the Bi Polar Organisation or the National Autistic Society)
- accessing money advice from providers specifically trained to work with people with mental health difficulties;
- applying to CSBF and/or other charities for financial help to meet specific needs
- accessing GP/ NHS / Primary Health Care providers
- referring to line managers / HR/ welfare / EAP/ Occupational Health teams for workplace support and assistance;
- accessing CSBF's Carer Passport scheme
Funding for specific services can be made available where needed by CSBF to qualifying individuals.
CSBF have pledged with "Time To Change", the UK wide campaign to end mental health discrimination, and with the "Public Health Responsibility Deal", whereby partners pledge to take action to improve public health through food, alcohol, physical activity and health at work.
Click here to download the Health on Your Mind Flyer for more information
