Employment and Mental Health - June 2005
SEE ME ANTI-STIGMA CAMPAIGN
The see me campaign to eliminate the stigma and discrimination which can be associated with mental health problems is fully funded by the Scottish Executive's National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being. In 2004, see me launched a phase of campaign activity specifically aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination in the workplace. This work linked with several public sector employers including the NHS. NHS Ayrshire and Arran - the largest employers in Ayrshire and Arran - became closely involved in the campaign locally at the time of launch.
Since then, additional employers in the public and private sectors have become involved in the campaign. Also, NHS Ayrshire and Arran have worked again with see me to produce leaflets for employers and employees on how stigma can be combated in the workplace.
RESEARCH
The National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being has commissioned research into Employment and Mental Health. This work covers three main areas:
- Establishing an evidence base of the size and nature of people with experience of mental ill-health who are unemployed.
- Exploring the nature of the multiple barriers to work that people with mental health problems can face including; financial concerns, confidence and self-esteem and stigma and discrimination, for example.
- Describing the types of interventions that can be identified as being of use in helping people with experience of mental ill-health overcome barriers to employment.
Once published later this year, the National Programme intends to target this work at Employer and Employment Support Organisations from the statutory, private and voluntary sector, raising awareness of mental health and increasing understanding of the issues involved.
FIFE EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT PROJECT
The National Programme is funding an Employment Support Project in Fife - in conjunction with NHS Fife and Fife Council - covering the two aspects of Vocational Rehabilitation and Job Retention.
This innovative approach aims to augment the existing Occupational Health Service and managerial support structures to a case manager/rehabilitation consultant for people experiencing mental health problems in the workplace. This service will link up with an external voluntary agency (Fife Employment Access Trust has been successful in the tender) contracted to provide support to those experiencing mental health problems and currently find themselves out of work and applying for a job with NHS Fife or Fife Council.
The project is due to begin in July of this year and will run until July 2007, the Fife project will be held up as an example of best practice in the field of employment and mental health; sharing learning and experience with other areas and employers.
SCOTLAND'S HEALTH AT WORK (SHAW)
SHAW is a national award programme which supports and rewards employers who take a proactive approach to improving the mental health, physical health and, ultimately, the performance of their workforce.
The Scottish Executive's National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being funds a dedicated mental health project within the SHAW Programme. The project aims to build capacity to support the delivery of sustainable workplace training initiatives aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination amongst the general workforce and specifically targeting attitudes and behaviours of line managers, occupational health and human resources personnel. SHAW works in partnership with the See Me Campaign and others to address stigma in workplaces.
A network of 60 plus SHAW Advisors are working across the country to encourage workplaces to introduce policies and practices which promote positive mental health for all staff; supporting staff with mental health problems and removing barriers to recruitment for individuals with a history of mental health problems. Local activity includes linking their network of proactive workplaces with local supported employment projects to expand work opportunities. There are currently 1389 workplaces registered with SHAW, covering 34% of the Scottish workforce.
In October 2004, SHAW launched a special commendation award for mental health which helped to highlight the importance of tackling stigma in workplaces as part of the wider national campaign aimed at the general public. Almost 100 organisations in Scotland are currently working towards achieving this accreditation which requires workplaces to demonstrate a supportive environment conducive to positive mental health and well-being.
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
Mental Health First Aid training (developed in Australia and Canada and piloted in Scotland in 2004) enables trained individuals to interact better with people with mental health problems. This training is open to members of the public and to individuals who are representative of particular organisations. Approximately 900 people from a variety of different backgrounds have now received Mental Health First Aid training. A Job Centre Plus representative from the Pathways to Work Pilot area has been included in the initial training delivery. These trainers of trainers will be able to disseminate their skills throughout their organisation.
Scotland's Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA) training programme was launched on 20 June 2005 to help deliver one of the National Programme's key aims, which is raising public awareness of mental health and illness and promoting positive health and well-being. Over the next three years, 300 SMHFA Instructors will be trained and will run SMHFA courses all over Scotland. By 2008, a target of 40,000 people from a range of backgrounds in Scotland, including the employment sector, will have completed the 12-hour course.
For more information about SMHFA training courses, visit
www.smhfa.com.