Due to the lockdown and unpredictable nature of the current crisis, Mental Health First Aid England, Centre for Mental Health and London South Bank University have agreed to put on hold all of our work on this project.
We will be reviewing this decision in the Autumn and assess whether the project can be continued safely for everyone involved.
It has not been an easy decision to make as the EMPOWER research project is such an important study particularly at a time when a focus on mental health in the workplace is all the more important. In normal times poor mental wellbeing in the workplace has a significant impact both on individual businesses and on the economy as a whole. It is estimated that the business cost of mental ill health at work is almost £45 billion a year nationwide. There is increasing understanding that employers can reduce some of these costs by taking positive action to improve mental health at work and create supportive, healthier, more productive businesses. For every £1 spent on supporting people’s mental health, employers can get £5 back on their investment in reduced presenteeism, absenteeism and staff turnover.
We hope to be able to recommence the project and again to be able to offer free training places to organisations taking part.
We will update this notice as soon as we learn more but otherwise please contact Dr Graham Durcan via mhfaproject@centreformentalhealth.org.uk to find out more.
