TRAINING & EDUCATION
DESPERATELY SEEKING SOLACE
Firms across Scotland have signed up to Train 2015, a scheme designed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the country’s workforce. It is being jointly run by Healthy Working Lives and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). IOSH Media Officer Marcus Boocock outlines the programme.
Businesses in Scotland and many other countries have come a long way when it comes to keeping staff safe at work.
But how good are they at looking after the health of their staff and in particular, their mental health? How would they respond if a hard-working member of staff suddenly became unproductive? Or someone who is normally a stickler for timekeeping started turning up late?
These are tell-tale signs that an employee is struggling with a mental health problem, but they often go untreated by employers which, in some cases, leads to the issues worsening.
According to the European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks, over 40% of employers consider psychosocial risks more difficult to manage than more traditional occupational safety and health risks.
TIME FOR ACTION It is such research that has prompted
the launch of Train 2015 in Scotland. The scheme is a joint move by Healthy Working Lives (HWL) – part of the NHS in Scotland – and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) to try to improve the mental wellbeing of the nation’s workforce – and save a huge amount of money in the process.
In Scotland, mental health problems at work cost employers more than £2 billion a year. Stress is the biggest cause of long-term sickness absence among all workers. Over three-quarters of firms north of the border have no occupational healthcare services other than first aid. In many cases managers do not know enough about mental health to be able to take action.
That is what Train 2015 is seeking to tackle head on. The aim is to assist companies in spotting the signs of
38
problems early and acting on them. It is hoped that by the end of this year 2,015 people will receive training on the matter.
Health and safety managers from companies which have signed up to the scheme have been attending training sessions in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen or Inverness. From there they will pass on the knowledge they learn to their managers and others responsible for the welfare of staff.
TRAINING BEGINS At one recent session in Edinburgh
trainer Tom Thomson invited the delegates to think of their own experiences of mental health problems, both in work and outside, and how things could be done better.
He told them it is vital to have a conversation with a worker if they are concerned, adding that work should be good for people’s mental wellbeing: “We spend about a third of our lives at work, so if you don’t look forward to going to work in the morning that can be detrimental to your health.
“What we want to do is create a situation where attitudes towards mental health are positive. Support must come from a high level. That is what we want to achieve with Train 2015.”
MENTALLY HEALTHY
WORKPLACES People who are attending the courses will be given advice on creating what HWL is calling ‘mentally healthy workplaces’. Features of these include consulting employees on key changes, supportive management with regular supervision, acknowledgement of individual contributions and good communication at all levels.
Among the firms signed up to the training is Edinburgh Napier University. The institution’s head of health and safety, Liz Young, attended the training session. She said that after an employee survey they developed an action plan to aid the mental health and wellbeing of staff.
Liz, a member of IOSH’s Edinburgh branch, said: “I am attending the Train 2015 course as the mental wellbeing of staff and students is paramount to us. We believe that if staff are happy at work that really improves their mental health and wellbeing.”
Mick Grimmer, chair of IOSH’s Edinburgh branch, said: “Mental health issues do not discriminate. They can affect anyone at any given time. Early diagnosis is better than prognosis. That is why this training is vital. It is giving the companies a chance to take a positive step and improve people’s lives.”
www.iosh.co.uk
www.tomorrowshs.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56