Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is raising awareness of mental health issues as part of a global campaign to start conversations about mental health.
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals puts great importance on the health and wellbeing of its staff and its patients. This includes offering a two day Mental Health First Aid Course to all staff which is designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis.
To highlight mental health, information stalls have been organised at both Preston Hospital and Chorley Hospital to enable staff and visitors to access support and resources from healthcare professionals.
Leaders at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals have also recently lent their support to the national ‘Time to Change’ campaign with a special Employer’s Pledge signed recently to mark their commitment. The pledge demonstrates the hospitals commitment to think and act differently about mental health in the workplace and make sure any staff facing problems feel supported.
Karen Partington, Chief Executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “We want a workplace where everyone – no matter what their job role or grade – feels able to openly talk about their own mental health, or feels comfortable and confident in listening to a colleague who might be having mental health difficulties.”
“By making the Time to Change Employer’s Pledge, we are making an absolute commitment as an employer, to do our utmost to break down the stigma around mental ill-health. We do not want anyone to feel scared or ashamed to speak up or seek help, or feel unable to support someone else.”