Wellbeing & Mind

Wellbeing & Mental Health Policy

1. Our reasons for introducing a mental health and emotional well-being policy statement

Many factors in the workplace influence the mental well-being of individual employees, departments, and organisations as a whole. Understanding and addressing the factors which affect people’s mental well-being at work has a wide range of benefits, both for individuals and the organisation.

Mental well-being in the workplace is relevant to all employees, and everyone can contribute to improved mental well-being at work.

Addressing workplace mental well-being can help strengthen positive and protective factors of employment, reduce risk factors for mental ill health, and improve general health. It can also promote the employment of people who have experienced mental health problems and support them once they are in work. There needs to be a non-judgemental environment and a safe place to talk for people who are experiencing mental ill health.

This policy statement is part of a series of policies that promote well-being and support within our company, and is supported by our appointed Health and Safety Consultants and other organisations as needed.

2. Aims & Objectives

The purpose of this policy statement is for ARMA Connect to establish, promote and maintain the mental health and well-being of all staff through workplace practices, and to encourage staff to take responsibility for their own mental health and well-being.

We aim to support employees to be their best at work, and to ensure they feel confident that during a period of mental ill health they have somewhere to turn to for support and guidance.

ARMA Connect believes that the mental health and well-being of our staff is key to organisational success and sustainability. This will be achieved by:

– Building and maintaining a workplace environment and culture that supports mental health and well-being and prevents discrimination, including bullying and harassment.

– Increasing employee knowledge and awareness of mental health and well-being issues and behaviours.

– Facilitating active employee participation in a range of initiatives that support mental health and well-being.

– Ensuring employees feel that they have someone who will listen when they need support.

– Promoting mental well-being to all staff by providing information, opportunities and raising awareness about mental health and well-being.

– Promoting policies and practices that support well-being.

– Developing skills for managers, supervisors and staff.

– Training and appointing mental health first aiders in numbers appropriate to the size of the organisation.

– Ensuring each job role is clearly defined and that workloads are reasonable, reviewed on a regular basis.

– Encouraging employees to have a say in the way they carry out their work.

– Providing support and training for the work required to be undertaken by each employee.

– Encouraging and promoting positive internal and external working relationships.

– Helping employees to talk openly about their work and mental health, and to report difficulties without fear of discrimination or reprisal.

– Giving non-judgemental and proactive support to individual staff experiencing mental health problems.

– Dealing sympathetically with staff experiencing mental health difficulties due to circumstances outside the workplace, and who consequently find it difficult to carry out their duties.

– Encouraging staff to consult the Medicash helpline, their own GP, or further mental health services where necessary.

– Treating all matters relating to individual employees and their mental health in the strictest confidence, sharing information on a need-to-know basis only and with the consent of the individual concerned.

– Not making assumptions about any person with a mental health problem, and treating everyone as an individual.

3. Responsibility of Employees

All employees are encouraged to:

– Understand this policy statement and seek clarification from management when required.

– Consider this policy statement while completing work-related duties and at any time while representing ARMA Connect.

– Support fellow workers in their awareness of this policy statement.

– Support and contribute to ARMA’s aim of providing a mentally healthy and supportive environment for all workers.

– Take reasonable care of their own mental health and well-being, including physical health.

– Take reasonable care that their actions do not negatively affect the health and safety of other people in the workplace.

– Raise concerns and seek help from their line manager, human resources, the company mental health first aiders, or the company Employee Assistance provider for counselling.

4. Communications

ARMA Connect will ensure that:

– All employees receive a copy of this policy statement during the induction process.

– This policy statement is easily accessible to all members of the organisation.

– Employees are informed when a particular activity aligns with this policy statement.

– Employees are empowered to actively contribute and provide feedback on this policy statement.

– Employees are notified of all changes to this policy statement.

5. Monitoring and Review

ARMA Connect will ensure that:

– This policy statement is reviewed twelve months after implementation and annually thereafter.

– Effectiveness of this policy statement is assessed through feedback from workers, the health and well-being committee (if applicable), and management.

– The policy statement is reviewed by management and the committee to determine whether objectives have been met and to identify barriers and enablers to ongoing implementation.