SUPPORT Publishes Workplace Wellbeing Expert Seminar Report

The SUPPORT project has today published its inaugural seminar report, following an expert seminar hosted by The European Commission in Brussels in late summer. By holding expert seminars in each of the three years of the Project, SUPPORT will focus on areas of critical importance to the strategy and EU agenda.

The seminar drew together experts in the field such as the International Labour Office (ILO) and World Health Organisation (WHO), The European Commission, business, academic and corporate social responsibility interests.

The primary objective of this event was to open dialogue with key actors in the field of wellbeing at work, to ask questions and explore options without prejudice.  The seminar set out to promote discussion, drawing on a range of bodies of expertise and experience. The seminar report, published today, sets out a comprehensive summary of discussions, accessible to specialists and non-specialists in mental health and employment fields, in member states and operating across the EU.

During the course of the seminar there were several recurring themes and ideas:

• That the Framework Agreement on Work Related Stress signed by European Social Partners in 2004 was a landmark achievement in this field, and that maximising implementation and exchange of knowledge and learning in this area is now paramount. Responsibility for implementation is with social partners at national level, and the Commission can support this by awareness-raising activities, by bringing actors together and by facilitating the exchange of best practice and experience.
  
• Good public health is vital to good work performance. There is a common and shared responsibility to take positive action on mental health in the workplace, both in relation to working life, and as a portal for accessing a large section of the population.
  
• That the most efficient way for the EU to influence this agenda was through high level alliances between Directorates, with the endorsement of Commissioners and senior staff, coupled with a practical orientation to implementation at all levels.
  
• That the baseline level of emotional literacy in the population should rise. This could boost receptiveness to specific workplace based initiatives, in particular the concept of the ‘health promoting workplace’. It could also facilitate access to support when mental ill health occurs, and ease return to work, minimising loss to companies and economies.
  
• That communication to stakeholders whose contribution is fundamental to enhancing mental health (e.g. the business community) should be framed in the appropriate language, using audience-specific concepts and terms
  
• That the case for action should always be delivered using media that are accessible to the recipient of the message, be that business, education, health professionals or the public.

Dr. Allyson McCollam, who facilitated the seminar for the SUPPORT Project said:

“This seminar was well received, and is an example of what SUPPORT is about. We want to provide a forum for discussion on the issues that matter, where possible assisting stakeholders to identify and progress actions which make a difference. Mental health is an increasingly important issue in the workplace. It is relevant to Member States, and individual employees, and at all levels in between. There is scope for action on many levels, and we hope this report provides a useful resource for achieving this.”

The full report is available online here.

See our SUPPORT for mental health in Europe page for further information about the SUPPORT project.

For more information contact: Chris O’Sullivan, SUPPORT Project Officer, chris@sdcmh.org.uk

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