Travis Perkins accelerates mental health and wellbeing initiatives
Travis Perkins has said it is on track to deliver on its commitment to ensure there are six times more mental health first aiders in the business this summer than there were at the start of the year.
The move means the company will have increased the number of accredited mental health first aiders from 40 to over 250 as part of a wide range of mental health support services. These include an employee assistance programme for counselling and emotional support, a mental wellbeing app and assessment tool, and activity and mindfulness resources. The company also offers discounts on gym memberships, exercise equipment and online fitness to help staff balance the physical, financial and mental aspects of wellbeing.
Richard Byrne, group HSE and fleet director at Travis Perkins, said: “Our mental health first aiders play a key role as ambassadors across all areas of wellbeing; to be the first port of call in the workplace for mental health support for colleagues, raise awareness and encourage positive behaviours amongst our workforce on a voluntary basis, and to identify signs of poor mental health and help individuals access professional support if they need it. But we are very clear that they are not there to diagnose or provide ongoing support or counselling”
Travis Perkins’ mental health first aiders all follow the guidelines of MHFA England. In addition, the company has put in place a range of support mechanisms to safeguard of the mental health first aiders themselves to help them protect their own health and wellbeing.
