Looking after yourself - World Suicide Prevention Day Suicide is still a taboo subject but this needs to change. We need to help reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and help prevent further unnecessary deaths. That's why we’re supporting World Suicide Prevention Day on Friday 10 September to raise awareness and help ensure that the appropriate level of support is in place for employees.
Building Mental Health Charter Barratt are supporters of the Building Mental Health Charter, an initiative led by industry experts, providing support and advice to increase awareness of mental health across the sector. We’ve pledged to: Provide awareness and understanding of the impact of poor mental ill health to our workforce and promote positive mental health through facilitated workshops, with the aims of: Reducing stigma and discrimination. Encouraging conversation in the workplace. Educate and enable champions from across the workforce to support keeping our people safe. Provide access to accredited Mental Health First Aid training and provide assistance to signpost workers to support in their communities. Recognise and accept education and training provided by peers and Building Mental Health partners.
A taste of what we have done so far... By the end of October 2021 we will have trained 107 Mental Health First Aiders across the business to provide assistance to our employees. More information about our Mental Health First Aiders below. We have trained 32 health and wellbeing champions across the business to provide signposting to the most suitable professional help, as well as to make colleagues aware about the health and wellbeing support across the Company. Our Line Managers have been through the Mates in Mind ‘Managing the Conversation training’ to enable them to spot signs of possible poor mental health, start the conversation and signpost to help. We partner with the Lighthouse Charity to promote their workshops on a range of wellbeing topics on a weekly basis, as well as provide a range of internal support webinars and Mindfulness practice sessions. Through our monthly health and wellbeing newsletters, we regularly promote ways to support positive mental health and contact information for professional support services. We are working with the HBF Skills Partnership Group to produce a mental health webinar for the construction supply chain. Towards the end of September we will be distributing Barratt help and support concertina cards which will provide contact details for a range of professional support services
Things you can do to care for your own mental health Evidence suggests there are five steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life, click here to find out what these are. Start the conversation Research also suggests that open and honest communication about mental ill-health supports steps towards suicide prevention, because these important conversations have the power to increase awareness and understanding, remind people they are not alone and help break the stigma which can be a barrier for those seeking help (Mates in Mind).
Mental Health First Aiders As part of our ongoing improvements to assist our employees with their mental health, we have trained a network of Mental Health First Aiders throughout the business. Their role as Mental Health First Aiders is to support individuals, help to make their life at work easier, listen non-judgmentally, offer and encourage support, signpost people to professional help and to assist in a crisis. If you are concerned about yours or another employees Mental Health then please contact any of the Mental Health First Aiders to discuss your concerns, they are here to help and assist you confidentially. Find the details of our Mental Health First Aiders here, which we'll continue to update.