The Pioneering Care Partnership in Newton Aycliffe is joining the Time to Change campaign aiming to end the stigma around mental health problems.
Around one in four people will experience a mental health problem yet there is still a shame and silence about talking about how people feel.
On World Mental Health Day last Wednesday (October 10), PCP officially signed the Employer Pledge and to publically showing their commitment to helping end mental health discrimination in the workplace.
PCP chief executive Carol Gaskarth said: “Mental health problems can affect anyone yet people can find it hard to open up to others.
“Sometimes we say we’re fine when we’re not and we are encouraging everyone to get behind the Time to Change campaign of asking twice.
“By asking people if they’re okay and double checking you can give people the opportunity to share how they’re truly feeling, and then friends, family, work colleagues or employers can offer help and support.
“The nature of what PCP does means we are well placed to champion change and tackle stigma around mental health in the communities we serve.
“Our pledge extends to empowering staff to talk freely about past or present experiences and providing practical help to build resilience whilst offering support when it is needed.
“PCP aims to make a lasting change for the benefit of current and future employees. It is in all of our interests to be more open about mental health problems and be able to share experiences in the same way we do with physical health problems.”
PCP signed the Employer Pledge at the County Durham Partnership Event at Ramside Hall Hotel in front of a range of partners, stakeholders, community groups and champions to demonstrate widely their pledge to tackle discrimination and stigma associated with mental health.
To find out more about the Time to Change campaign go to www.time-to-change.org.uk/
