A team of Triangulate trustees took part in the Mayor’s Quiz in the Crosfield Hall. A very enjoyable evening was had by all (we didn’t win but did manage a respectable score!) Proceeds from the Quiz go to the Mayor’s Charities of which Triangulate is one of this year’s beneficiaries.

Triangulate launched a Local Employer Network (LEN) meeting forum in Romsey. Attended by Richard Frost from Mindful Employer, delegates include the Town Mayor, Cllr Mike Curtis and representatives from the first three Romsey businesses to sign up to the Mindful Employer charter. Richard explained how these networks are for employers and by employers. Triangulate will facilitate the meeting and plan to hold them three times a year.

Triangulate organised an Impact on Depression training session for 26 employers from across the south-east. The session, funded by the Centre for Mental Health, was held in Southampton. Impact on Depression was set up by the Centre for Mental Health in 2010 to enable managers and staff to understand, identify and support people at work experiencing common mental health problems. Based on the Australian beyondblue National Workplace Programme, it gives people the knowledge and skills needed to act early and signpost colleagues to professional support and guidance. The session included information on Mindful Employer and all delegates were given a Triangulate employer pack.

A beyondblue training session at JobcentrePlus was set up by Paulene who is a manager in the Southampton office. Over 20 managers from across the south-east region came together for a 3 hour training session (resourced and funded by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health). Paulene, Bridget and Meghann were also at the session. Everyone present participated fully in the excellent session with very positive feedback. Lots of actions were drawn up to explore for spreading the message across the region.

For more details contact Helen Lockett at SCMH on 020 7827 8397 or email helen.lockett@scmh.org.uk

We are pleased that wider coverage is being given to mental illness in the media as shown by articles such as the following which was recently in The Guardian.

Our event at The White Horse attracted a number of employers from the town and representatives from agencies associated with mental health work in the region.

Town Mayor, Cllr Mike Curtis, showed his support for our work by spending the evening at the event.

Michael Peace, of A H Cheaters, is one of the first employers in the town to have signed up to the Mindful Employer charter and he was available to talk about the benefits of the scheme.

We’d like to thank The White Horse for their support in providing us with the venue for this event.

Photo shows: Cllr Mike Curtis, Mayor; Mary Greggains, Made Marion; Preb. Peter Speck, Triangulate; Michael Peace, A H Cheater

AH Cheater, funeral directors in Romsey, have become signatories to the Mindful Employer Charter – for employers who are positive about mental health. Michael Peace of AH Cheater says ‘as an employer I want to show our employees that talking about having mental illness will not count against them in their job. We want to challenge the stigma associated with mental illness by setting up positive practices in the workplace. This has to be good for both employer and employee’.

Triangulate is delighted to have been chosen by Cllr Mike Curtis, Town Mayor, as one of his charities for the coming year. At the Mayor Making ceremony on 18 May, we were invited to give a 3 minute introduction to who we are and what we hope to do. This was a really good opportunity to tell people about what we hope to achieve – and why it is so important, not just for those that suffer and their families but also for employers and the business community, too.

We look forward to attending the Civic Service in June and the Mayor’s Picnic in July.

We have received great support from Romsey Chamber of Commerce. Ruth Gower-Smith, President, writes a regular column in the Advertiser and has used this to tell everyone about Triangulate on several occasions. We have now joined the Chamber of Commerce and look forward to working with them over the coming year.

During April and May we have spoken to three groups.

We attended the Community Network lunch in Southern Test Valley. The lunches aim to bring together staff and volunteers from health and social care, district councils, housing, community groups, education and other agencies, to share information and promote ways to improve services in the community.

The Carers’ Café meet in Woodley Hall, Romsey and we went along to talk about Triangulate and the work we are involved with. Bridget Brook talked about the background to the group being set up and Nick Virgo talked about the role of carers, telling everyone about the support group which has been set up for carers of people with mental health issues.

Later in the month Bridget Brook and Ian Cox went to the Home Group and shared some of the background to the work we are doing. Ian explained how the company he works for had become a Mindful Employer and the benefits this can bring for both employer and employee.