Council announces mental health support package for businesses

York’s businesses will be able to access a brand-new package of free mental health support, launched by City of York Council at an event on Tuesday 31 January.

Marking the national Time to Talk Day 2023 on Thursday 2 February, the three projects, starting from February, will help the city’s businesses support the mental health of entrepreneurs and employees alike.

Attendees at the event heard from representatives from the council’s public health team, as well as a range of organisations offering mental health support for businesses, including the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Menfulness, York Ending Stigma (YES), York Mind and York St. John University (YSJU) Communities Centre.

York Mind’s Head of Corporate Wellbeing Services, Simon Taylor, spoke about the upcoming series of training sessions that his organisation will be delivering between March and June. Specially designed for small business owners, the training programme will include the following sessions:

• Mental Health is your business: Looking after your employees
• Mental Health is your business: Looking after you

The sessions will see attendees learn about developing a mental health strategy for their business, ensuring that staff are educated and supported to take care of their mental wellbeing. In addition, York Mind will also be developing a knowledge hub, where businesses will be able to access a wide range of resources to help them implement a wellbeing strategy for their staff, as well as to support the needs of business owners themselves.

Business owners and staff will be able to access free personal wellbeing coaching sessions with York St. John University (YSJU) Communities Centre. The coaches will help participants identify their untapped resources and unrealised potential, set goals and courses of action for the future and make changes to improve their mental wellbeing. The project, which is being funded through the council’s Inclusive Growth fund, will provide each participant with five free coaching sessions, either via telephone or via videocall.

Businesses operating within York’s hospitality sector are also encouraged to sign up for a free workshop, funded by the council and delivered by the Burnt Chef Project. This workshop is designed to upskill managers in the subject of hospitality-focused mental health and wellbeing. Aiming to challenge mental health stigma and support managers in tackling work-related stress, the session will equip attendees to lead conversations about mental health in the workplace. Businesses can sign up now to attend one of two workshops on Thursday 16 February, at either 9:30 am or 2:30 pm, at The Grand Hotel, Station Rise, York.

Councillor Ashley Mason, Executive member for Economy and Strategic Planning, said: 

“We’re delighted to be working with partners from across the city and beyond to deliver free mental health support for businesses. The ongoing difficulties posed by the economic climate mean that this is a particularly tough time for businesses and their employees, and we are determined to do everything we can to support the city’s business community in creating healthy workplaces.

“A successful business is nothing without its people, and it’s important that we all do our bit to support and be considerate to those we work alongside. We’re keen for York’s businesses to lead a shift in workplace culture to one where the mental health and wellbeing of staff is a priority. I’d encourage anyone working in York’s business sector to take advantage of this new support and gain vital awareness and skills.”

Nikki Jephson, Centre Manager at York St John University (YSJU) Communities Centre, said: 

“Inflation and the cost-of-living crisis has had a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of many people within our communities, including local business owners. The YSJU Communities Centre is delighted to work in partnership with City of York Council to expand its community-facing services, by delivering a series of fully funded Coaching for Wellbeing sessions to members of the public.

“This project aims to support local business owners across the York and North Yorkshire Community to make positive changes to their overall mental health and wellbeing. Coaching can help you explore your life and consider the opportunities or possibilities that are open to you.  It can help you identify your untapped resources and unrealised potential; in the process enabling and supporting you to make desired changes in your life.”

Simon Taylor, Head of Corporate Wellbeing Services at York Mind, said:

"A large part of addressing the current stigma is giving people the opportunity to talk about their experiences of mental health. Initiatives such as Time to Talk day are an important part of raising awareness, and the new services being launched will further support this by offering free mental health training and resources. Our hope is that the provision will give business leaders in York the confidence to support staff, and directly improve workplace mental health culture to the benefit of both their business and their employees."

To find out more about the support offers and how you can access these, click here.

To keep up to date with the latest business support and events, sign up to receive the council’s weekly business newsletter here.