Meet your Midcounties Mental Health Champions
This article will take approximately 2 minutes to read
Published 7 Dec 2021 in Colleagues
Over the past few years, the number of people experiencing mental health problems has increased, with 1 in 4 people reporting they are affected by common mental health difficulties. Today meet your Midcounties Mental Health Champions who are available for help and support to all colleagues.
The stigma associated with mental health must change and we are striving to have a proactive approach with you, our colleagues, ensuring you are safe and supported not just within the workplace but outside work too. Data obtained from Mind.org tell us that 1 in 5 people take a day off work due to stress, yet 90% of these people cite a different reason for their absence. We must normalise talking about Mental Health by doing everything we can to help support ourselves as well as each other.
We all have mental health just as we have physical health. We know that 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year.
What is a Mental Health Champion?
A Mental Health Champion is any employee who –
- Takes action to raise awareness of mental health problems amongst colleagues.
- Helps challenges mental health stigma
- Provides peer support to colleagues
- Someone who can promote positive mental health and signpost people to the relevant support and help where appropriate
What support can a Mental Health Champion provide?
A Mental Health Champion is someone you can call, email or have a coffee with and quite simply, have a chat. Whether you want to talk about things that may be on your mind, or you feel you need some Mental Health support and aren’t quite sure where to turn to, our Midcounties Mental Health Champions are here for you.
Each one of our Champions have put themselves forward to be available to spend time with anyone across our Business who may need it. We invite each of you, should you wish, to reach out to our Mental Health Champions.
Are conversations with Co-op Mental Health Champions confidential?
All conversations will be treated as 100% confidential unless you are deemed to be at risk to yourself or others in which case, we have a duty of care to take it further.
Meet your Mental Health Champions (Sign in to view)
What other external support is there?
What other external support is there?
GroceryAid
GroceryAid is the national charity that helps people across the whole of the grocery industry (please note for Midcounties Co-operative GroceryAid will cover all colleagues), last year the charity helped over 15,700 colleagues, spending £4.25m on welfare support. Your helpline and contact website - 08088 021 122 - groceryaid.org.uk
Urgent help in a crisis
To find your local NHS urgent, 24/7 mental health helpline -
NHS Talking Therapies
A GP can refer you for NHS talking therapy, or you can refer yourself directly. Find out more –
How to access local mental health services
Find mental health services near you –
Getting support from a mental health charity
Whether you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, these mental health charities, organisations and support groups can offer expert advice. We have highlighted some of the charities below, but a full list can be found here –
Anxiety UK
Helping those with anxiety, stress, anxiety-based depression or a phobia that is affecting daily life. Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm) anxietyuk.org.uk
BEAT
There to help you, or someone you love, who is suffering from an eating disorder or experiencing symptoms.
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s) beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people with manic depression or bipolar disorder
CALM
CALM are on a mission to prevent male suicide and offer free and confidential helplines for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight) - www.thecalmzone.net/
Family Lives
Advice on all aspects of parenting for children and families of all ages.
Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm) - familylives.org.uk/
Mind
Mind is on a mission to promote the needs and views of people with mental health problems. Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) - mind.org.uk/
OCD
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD.
Phone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) - ocduk.org/
Relate
The UK’s largest provider of relationship support. Phone: 0300 0030 396 - relate.org.uk/
Samaritans
Confidential support for anyone who is experiencing feelings of distress or despair - samaritans.org/