Looking after the mental wellbeing of the Porterhouse family
October 15, 2020 | COVID-19, Mental Health First Aid, Mindful Employer Charter, Porterhouse Medical Group, Time To Change Employer Pledge, healthcare communications, mental health
At Porterhouse Medical Group, as a busy insight-led healthcare communications agency group, we recognise the importance of mental health and that mental health issues are a normal part of life – possibly more so during the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We, therefore, take regular steps to safeguard the mental wellbeing of our valued team members. To help employees get a good work-life balance, we offer flexible and remote working opportunities. We have frequent company meetings – whether on a one-to-one or company-wide basis – with fun socials, book clubs, yoga and beer o’clock. All of which are virtual in the current climate, but help our teams combat stress, prevent feelings of isolation and to stay connected. In addition to our informal get-togethers, we have signed up to a number of more official work-place initiatives to look after the whole Porterhouse family.
One of our core values at Porterhouse is ‘Together as a family, we grow and flourish’ and looking after the well-being of each member of the Porterhouse family has always been a priority for us. Therefore, we are delighted have a team of three trained mental health first aiders, who offer confidential help to anyone in need of support at Porterhouse.
Our Mental Health First Aiders act as a point of contact and reassurance, listening to any stresses or issues that our team may be experiencing in their home or work lives, and providing information and advice on professional organisations that may be able to help. They offer regular virtual drop in sessions to ensure that there is always somebody available for our team to talk to if there’s anything that may be affecting their well-being or if they have any concerns about others who may be facing challenges.
For our employees who would prefer to speak to somebody outside of the work environment, Porterhouse is also signed up to the Mindful Employer charter. Mindful Employer provides a confidential staff helpline, which is open 24/7 and can offer independent and confidential support to help with life’s challenges.
Time to Change Employer Pledge
Our most recent mental health initiative was the signing of the ‘Time to Change Employer Pledge’, demonstrating our commitment to supporting our colleagues and ending mental health discrimination in the workplace.
Time to Change is a campaign to change the way people think and act about mental health problems and to challenge the stigma that surrounds mental health problems.
Our Time to Change champions are implementing a 12-month action plan with a focus on changing attitudes, by creating opportunities to start up conversations about mental health at work, dispel myths, and make it easier for our employees to seek support. This week in support of World Mental Health Day, they have created a quiz to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health issues and encourage everybody to talk openly about their problems.
At Porterhouse, our company mission is to improve people’s lives – we work hard to ensure that this applies not only in the work that we do, but in supporting the mental wellbeing of every member of Porterhouse family.
This content was provided by Porterhouse Medical Group