Yahoo News Prince William launches new website to improve mental well-being at work
The Duke of Cambridge has launched a new website aimed at improving mental well-being in the workplace, in Bristol, on Tuesday.
The “Mental Health At Work” initiative is an online portal that will provide employers with the resources and tools they need to better support their staff.
The project is curated is curated by Mind, the mental health charity, and funded by The Royal Foundation as part of their Heads Together campaign.
Prince William met with UK employers and employees at The Engine Shed in Bristol to learn more about the gateway.
Among the attendees was Kirk Robinson of Mace, who hosts Mental Health At Work ‘toolbox talks’ for the men and women on his construction sites.
He said: “It gives me the opportunity to get the guys to talk to one another, and to talk to me, and then recognise, that if they have got a problem, they’re not on their own.”
The Duke spoke about how people spend more time at work than almost anywhere else, yet research shows that it’s also the place where we’re least comfortable talking about mental health.
He said: “To change this, we need to tackle two big problems. We need to stop people feeling as if they have to hide, and we need to make sure anyone with any responsibility for others at work knows what to do.”
The initiative comes after a major study into workplace wellbeing by Mind found that half of workers have experienced poor mental health in their current job.
The survey of more than 44,000 employees also revealed that only half of those who had experienced poor mental health had talked to their employer about it, suggesting that as many as one in four UK workers is struggling in silence.
William added: “My ambition is that this gateway can be the start of a big shift in working culture. It can genuinely help businesses ensure mental wellbeing is part of everyday working life.”
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said: “We are really proud to be involved in this piece of work, which offers a one-stop shop for anyone looking to improve mental wellbeing in their workplace and support staff with mental health problems.
“We know that employers want to do more and are starting to see mental health as a priority, but often don’t know where to start.
“The new online Mental Health at Work gateway will change that.”
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