To mark World Mental Health Day 2022, the Isle of Wight Council this week signed a new wellbeing pledge committing to prioritising mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
By signing the ‘Time to Change’ pledge, the council will continue to promote an open culture around mental health, provide mental health tools and support and proactively ensure work design and organisational culture drive positive mental health outcomes. It will also increase organisational confidence and capability.
Wendy Perera, as head of paid service at the council, is passionate about supporting her teams. She said:
“One in four of us will experience a mental health problem at any one time. It is really important to me that should any member of Team IWC find themselves in need of support, that they can not only reach out for help, but that we can provide them with effective tools to support them.
“Since we signed the ‘Time to Change’ pledge in 2018, we’ve put a number of initiatives in place to encourage our colleagues to talk about their mental health and wellbeing in confidence, and to have the support they need, when they need it.”
The council provides:
- employee assistance programme of confidential support for physical, mental and financial health tools;
- occupational health;
- confidential mental health support, supporting colleagues with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues affecting their work;
- a team of trained mental health first aiders providing support with mental health issues or emotional distress.
Councillor Michael Lilley, the council’s mental health champion, signed the pledge with interim chief executive, Wendy Perera, and council leader, Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox.
Councillor Lilley said:
“Mental health is just as important as physical health. It’s essential that people know that they can get the help they need, and I am proud to sign this pledge in support of the extensive work taking place to support our teams if they need it.”
The council’s mental health working group works with colleagues across the council to develop effective initiatives, campaigns and activities to reduce the stigma associated with mental health in the workplace and provide support.
Sounds wonderful, however nobody cares about mental health….
Laudable sentiments but meaningless words, is this the council who still allows staff to work remotely from home often in isolation which is never good for anyones well being, stop talking and actually do something.
I disagree. Working from home may not suit all, but I’ve found it’s much better for my wellbeing. I don’t feel isolated, I’m on Teams calls several times a day and that’s more than enough for me. We’re not all the same, and as an adult I appreciate working for an employer that gives me some choice in this where the nature of the work permits.
Dear Wendy Perera, as head of paid service at the council what can you do to cut down the waiting times for residents? Two family members, one young and one elderly have been referred this past week to different clinics and both been told there is a TWO YEAR waiting time before being seen.
What will be good for my Mental Health is
IW Council finally
STOP “Idiot’s” parking on Pavements.
So many staff have been signed off sick with work related stress due to the bullying culture which is rife through the Council, this is all just cheap talk but there are no genuine concerns about the mental health or wellbeing of the staff and nothing will ever change if you dont fit into the gang!
Many of the Island population will be feeling anxiety.
Particularly concerned, how much council tax will rise.
Time to abolish Council Tax
We pay Tax on our Wages
Tax on everything we buy
Tax on savings
Inheritance Tax
Etc Etc
AND THEY STILL CHARGE US COUNCIL TAX,
what so our Bins get emptied once a week.
And how much is this bull going to cost the council tax payers.
If the job is to stressful for the delicate little flowers then seek alternative employment.
Shame Wendy Perera didn’t have any consideration for the mental health/well being of Elmfield residents and Westridge Farm when she gave the go ahead to Captiva for West acre Park. How can she be trusted with peoples mental health when she’s happy to tear families out of their homes regardless of their pleas to stay!
Well between
‘working’ (yeah right) from home;
’family friendly’ (women only);
’time off in lieu’ (for that hour accidentally worked last year);
’dentist’;
’tea break’;
’off to get some milk’
’doctors appointment’
’genera sick days’
and of course the now faithful ‘Covid isolation’
WHERE exactly is the designated ‘work place’????