Councils and NIHE roll out new mental health action plan

MEABC Chief Executive, Anne Donaghy with guests at the launch of a new Local Government Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy & Action Plan for improving mental health among local council and NIHE employees

Ms Donaghy chairs the SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives) Local Government Health and Wellbeing Group, supported by LGSC (Local Government Staff Commission), which provides human resources and development advice to district councils and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).

It is hoped that by upskilling, awareness raising and challenging the stigma that surrounds mental ill health, the overall wellbeing of staff will improve across the sector.

The impact of poor mental health in places of employment was the focus of a 2018 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) study, which found it was the most common cause of long-term sickness absence in workplaces across the UK.

Councils and the NIHE have Health and Wellbeing plans and initiatives in place to support their employees, and this has been even more important during the recent period of lockdown, with many employees working from home for the first time, while juggling childcare and/or home schooling, or being redeployed into new or different roles.

The Local Government Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy & Action Plan was launched in The Braid in Ballymena and the event was particularly significant as it marked World Suicide Prevention Day 2020.

Ms Donaghy urged anyone who needs information and advice for themselves or someone they know, to download the Here2Help app, which was developed in the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area but has now reaching people as far away as Canada, the USA and China.

The app has been downloaded almost 6,000 times, and is free from app stores.

Created by Noel McKee, and developed by East Antrim Counselling and Ownies Bar, the app offers a range of services and support available to anyone in crisis.

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