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Keeping minds workingWith mental health issues now the largest cause of absence from the workplace, a pioneering project has started on Merseyside to try and tackle the problem. Unionlearn, the TUC's learning and skills organisation, has teamed up with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust on a project to increase trade union reps' awareness of mental health issues and help employers promote good practice. Briefings will help reps gain a fuller understanding of mental health. They will also be taught how their unions can ensure that members with mental health issues are treated fairly and given the correct service. The aim is to tackle some of the 420,000 cases of workplace-related stress, depression and anxiety reported in the UK each year. Mental ill health accounts for 40% of all Incapacity benefit claimants, with 66 out of every 10,000 workers suffering from it. Unionlearn's project work with the Trust has made it a priority to assist unions and employers in developing support and assistance for those developing mental illness and those returning to work after suffering from it. It also aims to help trade unions work with the relevant health and social care agencies so that union officials can help members gain access to mental health services. Briefings and three-day courses are being arranged for union reps. Unionlearn aims to have 100 union reps briefed and trained in mental health awareness and 25 employers committed to awareness training by the end of 2007. Dave Eva, unionlearn's Regional Manager, is running the project. He said: 'This is a really important area where unions can become more active. Anxiety and depression now account for more working days lost than backache and people who lose their jobs through mental illness are less likely than any other disabled group to be re-employed. 'This is due to the stigma that surrounds mental illness. Like most prejudice, this is based on ignorance and fear and leads to discrimination. Given that one in four people have an episode of mental illness in their lifetime, neither the employers no ourselves can ignore the issue any more.'' Bob Birchall, Divisional Director of the Trust's Interface Division, added: 'A project like this brings benefits to both employers and employees. Employers can gain a whole new group of potential employees, can learn about ways to help people already in their workforce who have mental health issues and so can help ensure continuity in their workforce. 'For employees, a more understanding employer can mean a greater sense of balance and a better chance of retaining their job.'' NOTES TO EDITORS: All unionlearn press releases can be found at www.unionlearn.org.uk unionlearn is t he TUC's learning and skills organisation, which works together with unions and employers to offer training in the workplace. Last year through a network of over 18,000 union learning reps over 100,000 individuals accessed education. Media enquiries: Press release (500 words) issued 16 Jul 2007 |
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unionlearn Telephone 020 7079 6920 |
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