Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, , has stressed the importance
of mental health in the workplace during a visit to an employer
leading the way with supporting their employees.
Ms Murphy visited brand and signage consultancy Morgan Consults
in Cardiff on World Mental Health Day - where this year's theme
is ‘mental health at work' - to see first-hand how they have
benefitted from the Welsh Government's In-Work Support Service.
The service provides therapeutic support to help employed and
self-employed people with mental or physical health conditions to
remain in work and between April 2023 and June 2024, supported
more than 3,500 people.
After initially hosting a Wellbeing in the Workplace training
session, Morgans Consult has since trained up seven Wellbeing
Champions and formed a wellbeing group so they can support each
other through regular workshops.
They have also introduced mindfulness and meditation sessions,
enhanced support for mental health through access to
counselling services and carried out a full wellbeing
survey of all staff.
Following the visit, Mental Health Minister said:
“It was fantastic to visit Morgans Consult and see how they are
leading the way with Wellbeing in the Workplace training sessions
thanks to our In-Work Support Service.
“Employers have a responsibility to support the
mental health of those who work for them and ensure it is easily
available and accessible.
“We are committed to supporting the mental health of people
remaining in work and returning to work, as this will provide
clear benefits for individuals, organisations and communities.”
Michael Kitchen, MS Group People Manager, said:
“The wellbeing workshops at MS-Group have had a significant
positive impact on employee morale and productivity.
“Participants have engaged really well, lots have discussed
their improved mental health, and we have developed a stronger
sense of community within the workplace.”
Earlier this week the Minister also attended a virtual symposium
with Canopi, a Welsh Government-funded, confidential mental
health support service for NHS and social care staff in
Wales.
It offers free, timely mental health support to individuals who
feel unable to access other support offered by employer-based
services.
Canopi has supported more than7,000 NHS and social care staff in
Wales since 2022.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, 3,702 accessed the service and
1,800 people received Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
The Welsh Government recently consulted on the draft Mental
Health and Wellbeing, and the Suicide and Self-harm Prevention
Strategies for Wales, with the responses being published earlier
this week, which are now being considered.
Notes to editors
In-Work Support Service-
- Our In-Work Support Service provides therapeutic support to
help employed and self-employed people with mental or physical
health conditions to remain in work. It also helps those on a
sickness absence to return to their workplace more quickly
- Between April 2023 and June 2024, the service supported over
3,500 people, most of whom were employees at risk of becoming
absent from work due their health condition.
- The service also supports businesses to help create healthier
workplaces by making improvements in health and wellbeing
practices
Out of Work Support Service
- We are also helping people recovering from mental health
and/or substance use who are out of work back, towards employment
through our Out of Work Peer Mentoring Service.
- The service has helped people to search for work and gain
qualifications with 430 people being helped into work between
October 2022 and June 2024.
