Looking to the future, consider how you will support your team as they return to the workplace following furlough. Try to manage the anxiety of staff who have experienced an extended period off work, and consult with them about the best way to re-integrate them into your business.
This could also be a great opportunity to review the way mental health is regarded in your organisation – do people feel able to discuss their mental health? Are people supported in their recovery from poor mental health? Do you and your team leaders know what to look for in identifying someone who may have mental health issues?
You may need some support in addressing the questions above. At Step One, we can help.
We have launched BeWell@StepOne – a free online learning and training programme for individuals who need support for their mental health.
Through BeWell@StepOne, you can direct your staff to 4-week and 6-week remote learning courses for topics such as anxiety, managing change, and building resilience.
These courses could be a valuable resource for all staff, but particularly for furloughed staff who may be experiencing mental health issues for the first time and are finding it difficult to access support through their GP.
We are a Devon-based charity who have been working to support individuals with their mental health for 80 years. It was a logical step to share that expertise with businesses and organisations in Devon, and to offer First Aid for Mental Health Courses through our Thriving Workplace scheme.
Amy Erith, Thriving Workplace and BeWell@StepOne project manager, said: ‘We realised that workplaces were not thriving and people were finding things really hard, so we created the BeWell@StepOne project to offer innovative online delivery for mental health support through training and peer support.’
‘We’re still working with businesses, but we’re also offering individual support remotely. It’s our goal to reach, and offer mental health support to, as many people as we can.’