NAA Member News: GEFCO UK unveils its commitment to tackle mental health taboo

17th May 19

GEFCO UK has announced a programme of health and wellbeing initiatives to support its employees and to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs until Sunday 19th May…

The business has signed an Employer Pledge demonstrating its commitment to changing how it thinks and acts about mental health in the workplace, and ensures that employees facing these problems feel supported. The Pledge is supported by Time to Change, the charity dedicated to challenging mental health discrimination.

GEFCO has also committed to ensuring that all staff will have access to a fully trained mental health professional by the end of 2019.

All employees are being issued with ‘Wellbeing Wallets’ and the senior management team will sign a pledge to end mental health stigma, encouraging employees to talk about issues at work. A series of mental health packs have been distributed to all GEFCO sites across the UK, allowing employees to come together in an informal setting and share their experiences.

“We operate in an industry where mental health issues can be particularly acute, with deep-rooted stigmas continuing to exist around sharing issues that are impacting people’s daily lives,” said Helen Grover, HR Director at GEFCO UK. “Improving the mental health of those most at risk in the workforce is one of the most pressing and yet widely ignored issues in Britain today. The initiatives we are rolling out are just part of our strategy to ensuring all of our employees can be healthy and happy at GEFCO, but also have access to help and support if they need it.”

Each Wellbeing Wallet includes ten QR code-friendly contact cards for a range of organisations supporting people with their mental and physical health, including BUPA, Change4Life and Couch to 5K.

The packs have been developed to ensure all employees have quick and easy access to services that encourage and support healthy lifestyles, and have been issued to employees’ home addresses.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, GEFCO is also issuing a survey to all employees, asking them to share their feelings and ideas for how the business can support them. The results of this survey will inform the next phase of the business’ health and wellbeing strategy by ensuring common issues are actively addressed for employees.