Mental Health Awareness Week

Head Office Circular: NP/119/24

Our ref: HSR

9^th May 2024

To: The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES

REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK, 13^th – 19^th MAY 2024 

I write to bring your attention to mental health awareness week next week. 

Mind, mental health charity, are launching as part of their work for this week, #NoMindLeftBehind, as 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem. But over 2 million people are waiting for NHS mental health services, and since 2017 the number of young people struggling with their mental health has nearly doubled. They need support right now. 

 

Useful resources in relation to mental health and workplace mental health and stress issues: 

-       Employers should take mental health problem as seriously and with the same care as a physical illness. In relation to employers duties see ACAS guidance: Reasonable Adjustments for Mental Health. 

-       Although RMT cannot offer medical help or counselling, we can help sort out problems connected with work that can trigger members’ stress, anxiety, and depression. For more information on this please see this RMT advice: Mental health – a trade union issue

-       The Mental Health section of RMT’s website can be viewed in full here

-       New online learning tool designed by HSE (Health and Safety Executive) to prevent work-related stress and launched recently. Called the Working Minds campaign. https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/working-minds/, it is based on the five same principles of risk assessment, and the steps are “Make it Routine, Reach Out, Recognise, Respond and Reflect”.

 

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of relevant members. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary