Mindful Employer Charter Signed By East Yorkshire Council

Caroline Lacey, chief executive of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, has signed the ‘Charter for Employers Positive About Mental Health.

On Tuesday 4 October, the council became a Mindful Employer, joining over 1,300 other organizations, including the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB and Hull and East Yorkshire Mind.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is demonstrating its commitment to creating an open and supportive culture within the company, in which colleagues feel comfortable discussing mental health, as well as providing appropriate mental health support to all staff as a registered employer.

In the UK, people with mental illness continue to report stigma and discrimination at work. As a result of signing this charter, the council is increasing awareness of mental health support and making it healthier to talk about mental health at work across all areas.

Across East Riding, the public health team coordinates instils and promotes supportive networks and the sharing of health and wellbeing information. By becoming a Mindful Employer, East Riding of Yorkshire Council hopes to inspire and support other organisations in East Riding to do the same.#

Speaking of the charter, Caroline Lacey said:

“By signing the Mindful Employer charter we are visibly showing our commitment to recognising the importance of talking about mental health at work and raising awareness of the support, networks and information available. I encourage all our employees to talk to each other about how they are feeling and to access support.

The chief executive added:

“We are also working to support and encourage local businesses to sign up to the charter alongside public health’s forthcoming Working Well initiative which will enable local businesses to be aware of and have access to health and wellbeing services and initiatives, as well as encouraging businesses to work together as a network and share good practice.”

According to Adam Gibson, public health lead for mental health and suicide prevention:

“It is fantastic that as a council we are making such a positive step to open up the conversation of mental health. With this in mind and the darker nights and winter fast approaching, it is a good time to make sure we are all checking in with family, friends and neighbours to ask how they are doing and check if they are okay, as well as being kind to yourself as it’s easy to let things get on top of you.”

Every year, World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October. World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, led by the World Federation for Mental Health. The day aims to raise awareness about the scale of suicide around the world and the role that each of us can play to help in preventing it.