Generali UK partners with Mental Health at Work
13th October 2017
Generali UK partners with Mental Health at Work to help ensure greater access to much needed employee support
In recognition of the fact that widespread stigma surrounding mental health is preventing many people from getting the support they need, Generali UK has partnered with Mental Health at Work in the latest of the insurer’s Wellbeing Investment Matching partnerships.
Mental Health at Work is a not for profit, Community Interest Company that was originally set up by the Maudsley Charity, under its previous nomenclature Maudsley Learning, to help raise awareness of mental health issues in local communities. The organisation went on to specialise in the workplace after identifying a considerable need, largely due to the stigma associated with mental health, and widespread lack of support with regards to prevention and early intervention.
Now, working in partnership with Mental Health at Work, brokers and group income protection (IP) clients, Generali UK will part or fully fund practical, skills-based mental health training where a need is identified to ensure organisations understand, manage and promote mental health as an integral part of working life.
Three out of every five (60%) employees have experienced mental health issues due to work or where work was a related factor, according to YouGov research released last week in advance of Mental Health Awareness Day on October 10th.
The research, supported by Mental Health at Work and commissioned by Business in the Community (BITC) exposes a vast shortfall in the way that mental health is viewed in the workplace:
- Less than a quarter (24%) of line managers received any training in mental health.
- 35% report not having any facilities or services to support employee mental health and wellbeing.
- Only 11% felt able to disclose a mental health issue to their line manager.
- Despite this, 84% of employers acknowledge they have responsibility towards their employees’ mental wellbeing.
- 91% of managers agree that what they do affects the wellbeing of staff.
Alison Pay, Marketing and Operations Director at Mental Health at Work says: “We urge all organisations to use these research findings as an opportunity to reassess their approach to mental health and begin to make real headway in removing the stigma.
“This means a focus on bespoke, facilitated training supported by activities to embed the messages and provide the right support, such as masterclasses, 1:1 support and crisis prevention.”
Simon Thomas, Director – UK Employee Benefits, Generali, comments: “Our partnership with Mental Health at Work comes at a time when HR Managers are struggling to put in place the interventions they urgently need thanks often to financing and ROI issues.
“Wellbeing Investment Matching was launched this year with this exact scenario in mind. We can help brokers and their clients overcome these hurdles so that individual mental health and wellbeing needs are supported.”
To read more about Wellbeing Investment Matching click here
Or contact Generali: eb.enquiries@generali.co.uk