National ‘Time To Talk Day’ 2024 – Royal Mail Group
Further to LTB’s 41/24 and 44/24 and our correspondence with the employer, Royal Mail Group have shared their contribution to supporting ‘Time To Talk Day” 2024, (which belatedly arrived yesterday). However, on the plus side, I’m pleased to report to all ASRs, WSRs, CWU Health & Wellbeing Ambassadors and Branches that the Royal Mail Group Head of Health and Wellbeing Fiona McAslan has confirmed to the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department that across Royal Mail Group, the company is recognising the national ‘Time To Talk’ Campaign, driving the importance of having open wellbeing conversations each and every day, ongoing.
The circa 1,300 Wellbeing Ambassadors, including CWU Reps, First Aiders and members have been briefed and asked to drive local activity, working with the workforce in the Units, using a new RMG ‘Time To Talk Resource Pack’ (copy attached) and helping employees understand the importance of having open mental health conversations and accessing the early support when its needed.
About Time to Talk Day
As detailed in LTBs 41/24 and 44/24, ‘Time to Talk Day’ is held at the beginning of February every year. It is about helping people, workers, groups, communities etc., to come together to start to generate mental health conversations across the nation on the day but importantly to keep it going beyond that.
Taking place on Thursday 1st February 2024, it is a day that friends, families, communities, and workplaces and colleagues are encouraged to come together to talk, listen and help change lives. Time to Talk Day is the perfect opportunity to start a conversation about mental health.
We are again supporting the ‘Time to Talk Day’ national campaign which spotlights the importance of having more open, honest mental health conversations, encouraging people to have those conversations about how they’re feeling and to help combat the stigma that still exists around mental health plus seeking help and support.
We want to support the campaign’s aims which is to give everyone the opportunity to come together to talk, listen and change lives. People talking about their mental health and how they are really feeling can be difficult. But talking is crucially important! Mental Health charities and experts continually emphasise the point that the more conversations we have, the better life is for everyone.
Talking about mental health isn’t always easy and sometimes it’s even harder to say how you really feel. Sometimes it’s easier to just say we’re ‘fine’ than to open up. But an open conversation can be the first step towards better mental health and conversation has the power to change lives.
We know that mental health stigma has no place in the workplace – and yet, it continues to be a problem for workers. Speaking to workers about their mental health and creating a culture where people can talk openly will not only get the best out of people, but the different insights people can give can actually help achieve personal and organisational goals.
And sometimes it takes the effort and enthusiasm of the Union and workforce for employers and operational managers to sit up and take notice.
Run by the UK charities ‘Mind’ and ‘Rethink Mental Illness’, the day raises awareness of the importance of open conversations around mental health.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that nearly two million workers in Great Britain reported suffering ill-health as a result of their work in 2022/23, with around half these cases due to stress, depression or anxiety.
As well as workers who report mental ill-health, there may well be many individuals who have experiences and symptoms that employers are not even aware of.
Talking about mental health with work colleagues/Union members can be challenging, particularly as many worry about the stigma and prejudice that may come as a consequence of sharing their issues. If this results in workers not seeking the support they need, it can create more complex health needs. LTB 44/24 offers advice and useful guidance and tips from the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) on starting those conversations. Further detailed information is contained in LTB 41/24.
Attachment:
- RMG ‘Time To Talk Resource Pack’
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
24LTB051 UK National ‘Time To Talk Day’ 2024 – Royal Mail Group
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 