Established in 2016, Mental Health at Work is a community interest company, which provides customised programmes for firms looking to address mental health positively in their business.
It will retain its distinct brand and board of directors, operating as an independent but wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mental Health Foundation.
In turn, the Foundation will continue to grow its workplace programmes – building a diverse range of corporate partnerships, making high-quality information available to the public and developing new research into workplace mental health.
“We know good mental health in a workplace generates benefits for everyone concerned. Mental Health at Work has championed engagement with, and understanding of, mental health in workplaces and made a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of people in both large and small organisations,” said Mental Health at Work Chair, Charles Elvin.
“Our partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, which sees Mental Health at Work become part of their family, will allow us expand our impact, working closely with an organisation that shares our mission and values.”
According to the Foundation, the acquisition is the first in a series substantial new programmes that it is developing as a result of generous legacy gifts and major donations, including from the estate of the late supporter, Mr Stephen Schick.
The Chair of Trustees of the Mental Health Foundation, Keith Leslie, added: “The Mental Health Foundation and Mental Health at Work share a vision for how our workplaces can provide a setting where people can thrive. We are fortunate to be in a position where we can invest in work we think will help deliver our vision of good mental health for all.
“I am confident that with our complementary resources and expertise, this deal will accelerate our ability to equip more employers with the skills they need while also providing a sustainable revenue stream for the Foundation’s wider charitable activities.”
A new board structure – in which two Mental Health Foundation directors will sit on the Mental Health at Work board and one Mental Health at Work director will sit on the Foundation’s board – will lay the ground for developing close co-operation going forward.
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to introduce our approach to workplace mental health to more organisations, more quickly, as a result of this partnership,” added Mental Health at Work Managing Director, Alison Pay.
“This will bring lasting behavioural and attitudinal change, ensuring mental health is treated as an integral part of working life.”
In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, ‘Burnout, stress and being human’, Heather Beach is joined by Stacy Thomson to discuss burnout, perfectionism and how to deal with burnout as an individual, as management and as an organisation.
We provide an insight on how to tackle burnout and why mental health is such a taboo subject, particularly in the workplace.
