Think Mental Health: A business revisited by Y&H and their progress in the last six months
Think Mental Health: A business revisited by Y&H and their progress in the last six months
Guest Editorial • Summer 2022
https://www.thinkmentalhealth.co.uk/Some of our readers may recall a previous interview in our Winter 2021 edition with the owner and director of Think Mental Health, Paul Longley. We caught up with Paul to see how things have moved since our discussion in late 2021 and find out what he’s been up to.
Hello again Paul; tell us what you’ve been up to since we last chatted.
My feet haven’t touched the ground since our first conversation. Since then, I have been dedicated to developing and growing several relationships with many local (and global) employers to raise awareness and positively impact mental well-being in the area. The impact of Covid still means that Mental Health support for employees is a top priority for many businesses. We’ve been delighted to work with companies such as Rix, Smith & Nephew, Reckitts, and Swift Caravans. We successfully partner with these organisations as a one-stop shop for their well-being requirements by delivering accredited training, company wellbeing packages, risk assessments, guidance, reports, and booklets.
You say that COVID is still impacting employers and employees. Can you tell us more about your experiences with this?
The impact of COVID doesn’t just sit with mental health alone. The result is, in its simplest term, a human impact. Its far-reaching effect on people means employers face more and more people’s challenges and focus on wellbeing. Skill shortages continue to worsen, with more and more people looking to change jobs and the cost-of-living crisis meaning people are planning to job hunt for a higher salary. We are helping businesses create a positive and supportive culture that helps them retain good people, bring out the best in them, and ensure they feel valued and supported.
Tell us more about the company and employee support packages.
According to recent research, around 70% of UK line managers feel that employee wellbeing is a core skill they need, but only 13% have received formal training – so there is a considerable gap to fill. Our Line Managers Masterclass for mental health has been successful and well received across various businesses we work with. It positively impacts the managers and the people they manage. We’ve developed the programme in partnership with companies such as Swift Caravans, Willerby, Premier Modular and Smith & Nephew. Around 140 line managers at Reckitts have gone through the programme and are due to move on to the next stage of the programme; ‘What’s next?’
What other support areas do you feel fit into filling this gap in understanding and skills?
I have been chuffed to bits to run workshops with some local colleges and schools. These sessions aim to understand some of the issues with tomorrow’s generation. We’ve been to North Lyndsey College in Doncaster, St Mary’s College in Hull and South Hunsley School. Young people receive the subject well, and it’s a delight to be influenced at such a young age and open up conversations.
As if you haven’t been busy enough, have you been up to anything else?
I am proud to be running the Think Mental Health Ball at the end of October to raise funds and awareness for Andy’s Man Club and the First Ladies Club, which is now a sell-out event. I’ve received fantastic support from Jeni Cornwall at Victory Holiday Homes.
Thanks again, Paul, for your time and filling us in on the last few months.
Pauls Story
I started Think Mental Health in January 2021, and much of the story stems from my own experiences. I suffered from mental health issues for over 25 years. I decided then that I wanted to spend the next 20 years doing something meaningful and went to college to train to be a Mental Health First Aid Tutor. https://www.thinkmentalhealth.co.uk/
Ensuring we consistently review and develop our culture here at Swift to be the best that we can be is hugely important to us. The information and knowledge Paul provided to team Swift have been really valuable. Well done, Paul Longley, what a guy!
Swift Caravans