Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, is championing a campaign to promote good mental health and wellbeing at work, in support of World Mental Health Day.

The Combined Authority and Growth Platform have produced a series of short videos from local people sharing their perspective on mental health and encouraging everyone to talk about it.

The Growth Platform website is signposting businesses and individuals to a range of resources, from organisations including the Zero Suicide Alliance, Mental Health First Aid England and Mind.

Employers can access discounted Mental Health First Aid Training via the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Be More Skills Funding programme. Information is available from the Growth Platform’s Skills Brokerage Service.

Speaking about the initiative, Mayor Steve Rotheram said:

“The workplace can be a stressful environment at times. We know that the last 18 months have made existing challenges worse, and posed new ones. A lot of people have been struggling as a result.

“One of the biggest things we can each do is to learn to recognize some of the signs that a colleague might be struggling. There’s some simple training and other resources available to use. Much of it is free and you can do it from home.

“I want everybody to know that it’s okay to be not okay. You are not alone. There is support out there and I hope that by raising awareness more people feel comfortable talking about mental health and getting the support they need.”

Chair of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, Asif Hamid MBE, said

“Businesses can help their employees mental health by creating a healthy workplace, promoting an active lifestyle and most importantly by being flexible. Fostering a culture and an environment where talking about mental health is encouraged is a starting point.

“I would encourage all employers to head to the Growth Platform website and take a look at the resources available that can help you and your employees.

“Together we can help make difference to the health and wellbeing of workers across Liverpool City Region.”

Mayor Steve Rotheram intends to stage an event focused on mental health at work later in the year, delivered with The Good Business Festival. Plans will be announced soon.

Helpful resources are available at the Growth Platform website https://growthplatform.org/mental-health-in-the-workplace/