Aegon UK has rolled out a series of mental health training workshops to help its managers improve their understanding of mental health in the workplace.
The instructor-led, four-hour interactive workshops are designed to help managers learn how to spot signs of mental health problems or distress in their colleagues and provide the right support.
Aegon said the workshops will give managers the confidence to start conversations around mental health, break down the stigma surrounding the topic and create inclusive workplaces where everyone feels comfortable being themselves.
They will also look at practical ways to build confidence in supporting someone who is experiencing ill mental health, as well as different ways of promoting positive mental health in general, Aegon said.
The sessions, which will be delivered by AXA Healthcare, will take place in Edinburgh, Witham and Peterborough at the end of February. Additional awareness sessions are being planned for the rest of the year.
Dougy Grant, managing director and executive advocate, Aegon UK’s wellbeing workstream, said: “Poor employee mental health can have a damaging impact on a business. As an employer we have a responsibility to not only protect the business commercially but to protect and support the wellbeing of the people who are core to our business.
“We have taken great steps in the last year to promote a positive working environment and will continue to do so. Having trained a team of Mental Health First Aiders, we are now rolling out awareness workshops to people managers across the sites.”
The sessions form part of a wider wellbeing programme, which in 2019 included training mental health first aiders and running education programmes with external suppliers.
Grant added: “Supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of all our employees – and ensuring that they have access to appropriate support in the workplace – is unquestionably a priority for us.
“By providing a range of proactive, preventative and reactive support, the company has made great strides in breaking down the stigma of mental illness in the workplace.
“Our aim is to offer employees a range of services that will help them feel more valued, supported, motivated, and empowered to take control of their own wellbeing. We believe that this will contribute to a more engaged, productive, and sustainable organisation but more importantly, an open, supportive work environment.”
