On 13 April, Triangulate ran their first event for local employers to discuss issues around mental health. Held in the Town Hall it attracted attendees from a range of businesses in the town and farther afield. The audience of 40 including the Town Mayor, Cllr John Ray, the Town Mayor Elect, Cllr Mike Curtis and Sandra Gidley, Lib-Dem Parliamentary Candidate were welcomed to the event by Chamber of Commerce President, Ruth Gower-Smith. Other organisations attending the employer event included representatives from Solent Mind, JobcentrePlus and the NHS Foundation Trust.
Richard Frost from Mindful Employer led the evening. Most attendees had not previously heard of this initiative and were interested to hear from Richard what support there is for employers. Ian Cox spoke about signing the company he works for up to Mindful Employer and why he feels it is an important step both for the company and the employees. Following the presentations attendees were able to have more discussions on issues they are facing in their workplaces. These were wide-ranging and led to lively comment and feedback.
Left to right: Cllr Mike Curtis, Bridget Brook, Sandra Gidley, Cllr John Ray
Ruth Gower-Smith and Richard Frost (Mindful Employer)
This event was supported by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health and funded by Big Lottery Funding.
(Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health is now the Centre for Mental Health)