If you're an employer in the Scottish Borders, why not consider signing up for a Creating Hope Award? Join our local movement for supporting mentally healthy and suicide safer communities - find out more HERE
SAMH - mental health in the workplace
SAMH has some pages on its website about mental health in the workplace. There are resources for looking after your mental health at work including a guide that you can download. There is also a section for employers looking to improve mental health and wellbeing in their organisations. Find out more HERE
Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation has a useful guide about how to support mental health at work. You can read more HERE
Healthy Working Lives - Public Health Scotland
Public Health Scotland provides workplace guidance, training and resources on its Healthy Working Lives website.
Healthy Working Lives aims to offer support to employers in making the health and wellbeing of their workers a priority with focus on:
- Access to good quality, fair work
- Retention in work
- Preventing absenteeism
You can access the following Healthy Working Lives support online and through the local advisor:
- Health improvement information
- Online information on improving health, safety and wellbeing
- Online training courses – available through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) (external site) platform
- Face to face training course – this resource will be available soon - online booking is available for Health Board lead training courses
Please find out more online at Healthy Working Lives - Public Health Scotland or telephone 01896 825983 to speak to your local advisor.
There are also resources on the website for supporting mentally healthy workplaces and information for employers of any size to support their workers’ mental health and wellbeing:
Working Health Services
NHS support and referral service for staff absent (or at risk of absence) from work due to health conditions. Working Health Services is provided locally by NHS Borders. This is free confidential advice and health support for the self-employed and people working in companies with fewer than 250 employees. Can provide access to counselling, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
The service aims to help:
- Employees manage their condition and remain at work
- A return to work if a short period of sickness absence occurs
- Prevent them having further periods of sickness.
Employees can refer themselves to Working Health Services by phoning 0800 019 2211 or visiting Working Health Services Scotland - Ill health and absence - Workplace guidance - Healthy Working Lives - Public Health Scotland and clicking on the link to Self-Refer.
Access to Work scheme: Mental health support
The Access to Work Scheme is funded by the UK Government Department of Work and Pensions. You can get support to manage your mental health at work, which might include:
- a tailored plan to help you get or stay in work
- one-to-one sessions with a mental health professional
How to apply
Check you’re eligible and then apply directly to either Able Futures or Maximus.
Disbility Confident - UK Government Scheme
The Disability Confident scheme helps employers recruit and retain great people, and to:
- challenge attitudes and increase understanding of disability
- draw from the widest possible pool of talent
- secure high-quality staff who are skilled, loyal and hard working
- improve employee morale and commitment by demonstrating fair treatment
It also helps identify those employers who are committed to inclusion and diversity in the workplace. The scheme has 3 levels designed to support employers on their Disability Confident journey, these are:
- Disability Confident Committed (Level 1)
- Disability Confident Employer (Level 2)
- Disability Confident Leader (Level 3)
Find out more here - Are you a disability confident employer? - Disability Confident
HELIX
Local support for both job seekers and employers
Connecting job seekers and employers to support services, training courses, events and job boards. Available in Scottish Borders.