East Midlands UNISON members will come together on Friday 10 May 2019, in Nottingham, to explore mental health in the workplace. They will learn about the stigma of mental health and how to identify the signs, symptoms and risk factors of depression and anxiety.
The seminar has attracted UNISON representatives and members who want to support colleagues. They want to work with their employers to find ways to make the workplace safe and accepting for those struggling with their mental health.
Orangisers say that over the last decade, public services have faced an onslaught of budget cuts, reorganisations and privatisations, frequently leaving fewer workers to face rapidly increasing workloads alongside diminished terms of employment. Against this background, it comes as no surprise that mental health has emerged as an ever more acute issue in the workplace.
The day will include experiential activities, advice from an advocate with lived experience of mental health in the workplace, and a hands on look at UNISON’s guidance on working with employers to bargain for improved policies.