EXCLUSIVE: Anglian Water is raising awareness of mental health in the workplace as part of its annual health and wellbeing campaign.
The utilities organisation is educating its 4,000 employees about what they can do if they are suffering from mental health, if a family member is suffering or if they notice a change in a colleague’s behaviour.
It is part of Anglian Water’s Get Active campaign, which runs annual health and wellbeing campaigns around a certain topic.
In May, it published a video on the staff intranet, which includes thoughts from medical professionals, its healthcare provider Alliance Surgical, directors at Anglian Water and some employees speaking about their personal experiences.
Sally Purbrick, head of reward at Anglian Water, said: “For us, stress and depression are the main reasons for absence and, as part of our health and wellbeing campaign, we recognise this.
“The key thing is that the video has helped us try to humanise the stigma around mental health. We are trying to make employees aware that it is not something staff should shy away from.”
The organisation also provides employees with an employer-funded healthcare trust and an employee assistance programme.
Purbrick added: “We are showing our employees the communication channels, and [demonstrating] that mental health is something that needs as much time and attention as [physical] illnesses and conditions.
“I think it is about making it acceptable at Anglian Water to talk about it, because it traditionally has a stigma. But we also want to make sure that these benefits are there to help.”
humanize the stigma around mental health.
Sometimes our words betray us. I doubt that anyone can humanize a “stigma.” Its purpose is to dehumanize.
You have directed that term, you did not humanize anything. You did rouse my anger, though.
To your contradiction about, I can find not negative aspect to health. How did you?
There are a great many campaigns in the UK to assign a “stigma” to mental illnesses. They are highly successful –and very well funded.
I wonder why so many people want this message sent? Why do you? Is it something you practice? Can you tell me precisely how you practice it? Is it an office policy? can you tell me how it is practiced there?
Harold A. Maio, retired mental health editor