More and more of Suffolk’s employers are putting workplace well-being at the top of their agenda as the county’s first ‘Suffolk Business Minded’ forum is to launch on 29th September at the IP City Centre, Ipswich.

A recent report shows that the Mindful Employer Charter is taking off in the county. The forum, which follows on from the successful launch of Suffolk Business Minded earlier this year is open to all local businesses and employers.

The forum will present local businesses with an opportunity to meet, network and share knowledge on best business practice around stress, anxiety, depression and mental health issues in the workplace.

There will also be opportunities to talk with leading local experts in HR & Recruitment [ SOS HR ], Occupational Health [ Gipping. ] ,employment law [ George & Co. ] and supported employment [ Workwise WorkLink ] , all of whom have been involved with the campaign from the start.

The forum will meet quarterly and be led by the business needs of local employers, with the first forum meeting being launched on Tuesday, 29th September 2009 at the IP City Centre, Ipswich. Running from 6pm – 8pm, it will establish the members’ needs and use this to lay the foundations for the future direction of the forum.

There will also be a workshop to help employers identify development areas within their business around these issues, and assist them in establishing strategies to move forward.

We will also be hosting two guest speakers who will be talking about:

• The Mindful Employer charter and how it can help your business as well as Mental Health First Aid and its role in the workplace.

Guest speaker – Lesley Bailey [Development Manager, InterAct Ltd, MHFA national trainer]

• IAPT [Improving Access To Psychological Therapies]

Find out how this service can help your employers stay in work whilst they get treatment they need for stress / anxiety related issues.

Guest speaker – Hilary Edington, consultant psychologist for IAPT

Refreshments and a buffet will be provided, and there will be opportunities to network with other local like minded businesses.

The forum is sponsored by Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, and is free to attend by local employers / business managers. There will however be a £20 charge should delegates book and fail to turn up [exceptional circumstances will be taken into consideration], as there are limited numbers of places and we want to ensure spaces are not taken from those who can attend.

Should you wish to book a place please go to www.ifyouknew.co.uk > Suffolk Business Minded and download a booking form and return to the email / address provided on the form. Should you have any further questions then please call Gabriel Tamaya on (01473) 329785 / or email [email protected] or visit www.ifyouknew.co.uk

• 3 in 10 employees will experience mental health problems in any one year.

• 80 million work days are lost a year due to stress, depression and anxiety.

• It is estimated that about £9bn is lost a year through employers not addressing mental health issues at work.

• 80% of employers agree that more support is required to improve the way businesses deal with mental health in the workplace.

Reference – http://www.nhsemployers.org/HealthyWorkplaces/MHEmployment/Pages/MentalHealthFacts_FINAL.aspx

Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust works in partnership to provide mental health services to people in the county of Suffolk (excluding Waveney) and in the town of Thetford in Norfolk. It also provides substance misuse services and learning disability services to the county ofSuffolk. www.smhp.nhs.uk