County council signs up to pledge on mental health
Tuesday, 14th October 2014.
To mark World Mental Health Day, Deborah Cadman, chief executive and Mark Bee, leader of Suffolk County Council, signed the Time To Change organisational pledge.
The pledge is a public statement of aspiration that as an organisation, Suffolk County Council will tackle mental health stigma and discrimination.
The county council has submitted an action plan to Time To Change which demonstrates how this pledge will be carried out.
Cllr Bee said: “This is a significant step forward for Suffolk County Council, as we aspire to eradicate discrimination and the stigma of mental ill-health.
"We are now firmly aligned with Time To Change, England's biggest programme to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination.
“It’s not something we pay a registration fee for, it’s not just an added ‘tick box’, it’s about carrying this aspiration out in everything we do and say.
“We have come a long way with regard to mental health positive awareness, and there is still a journey to undertake, but we will work to achieve this collaboratively as a strong organisation and will strive to ensure that equality and inclusion underpins everything we do.”
Nina Bickerton, Suffolk County Council’s staff mental health network chair, said: “I am delighted with the day’s events and I’m thrilled that Mark Bee and Deborah Cadman have made such a commitment to the raising of awareness and the reduction of stigma of mental health conditions in the workplace.”
The Mental Health Network has been working closely with colleagues in public health on various projects across the council which support World Mental Health Day, including policy embedding and the launching of manager awareness training.
The network’s action plan is now represented within the Working Well For Suffolk strategy to ensure a holistic approach to wellbeing for all employees at Suffolk County Council; which extends to the residents across the county.
A day of events which featured this year’s theme of schizophrenia was also held at various council offices to mark World Mental Health Day.
Local specialist organisations were invited in to showcase the services they offer as well as offer taster sessions in various therapies. Drop-in counselling sessions were also available with a counsellor from SuffolkMIND.
The pledge is a public statement of aspiration that as an organisation, Suffolk County Council will tackle mental health stigma and discrimination.
The county council has submitted an action plan to Time To Change which demonstrates how this pledge will be carried out.
Cllr Bee said: “This is a significant step forward for Suffolk County Council, as we aspire to eradicate discrimination and the stigma of mental ill-health.
"We are now firmly aligned with Time To Change, England's biggest programme to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination.
“It’s not something we pay a registration fee for, it’s not just an added ‘tick box’, it’s about carrying this aspiration out in everything we do and say.
“We have come a long way with regard to mental health positive awareness, and there is still a journey to undertake, but we will work to achieve this collaboratively as a strong organisation and will strive to ensure that equality and inclusion underpins everything we do.”
Nina Bickerton, Suffolk County Council’s staff mental health network chair, said: “I am delighted with the day’s events and I’m thrilled that Mark Bee and Deborah Cadman have made such a commitment to the raising of awareness and the reduction of stigma of mental health conditions in the workplace.”
The Mental Health Network has been working closely with colleagues in public health on various projects across the council which support World Mental Health Day, including policy embedding and the launching of manager awareness training.
The network’s action plan is now represented within the Working Well For Suffolk strategy to ensure a holistic approach to wellbeing for all employees at Suffolk County Council; which extends to the residents across the county.
A day of events which featured this year’s theme of schizophrenia was also held at various council offices to mark World Mental Health Day.
Local specialist organisations were invited in to showcase the services they offer as well as offer taster sessions in various therapies. Drop-in counselling sessions were also available with a counsellor from SuffolkMIND.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)