York launches mental wellbeing hub for local businesses

York employers and their staff can now access a free online resource hub to help create mentally healthy workplaces.

Thanks to funding support from City of York Council, mental health charity York Mind has launched the Knowledge Hub, a password-accessible website which will contain guidance tailored to different sizes and types of organisations, as well as a wide range of resources including short videos, webinars and blog posts. The Knowledge Hub is York-specific, signposting a range of local help and resources available to organisations and their employees.

Once signed up to the Hub, business leaders will be able to access free leadership-specific content and advice, including step-by-step guidance on creating and implementing a mental health strategy for their organisations, as well as dynamic content to maximise employee engagement. Staff members will also have access to the platform, where they will find resources to help them look after their own mental health and wellbeing in the workplace and beyond.

Users will be able to access the Knowledge Hub free of charge for an initial period of six months from their sign-up date. After six months of use, the Hub will become a paid service and users will have the choice whether to unsubscribe or pay for continued access.

Councillor Pete Kilbane, Executive Member for Economy and Transport, said: 

“We’re delighted to support York Mind in launching the free Knowledge Hub. Investing in employee wellbeing has been proven to bring about considerable economic benefits, from boosting staff retention rates to reducing the number of productive days lost annually to staff sickness.

“National research has shown that small businesses are aware of the importance of providing mental health support to their employees, but that, all too often, they feel they do not have access to the right resources and expertise to feel confident in implementing a mental health strategy and supporting employees.

“It can be difficult to fit employee support around the time-consuming demands of running a business. Through the Knowledge Hub, business leaders and their employees will be able to access expert guidance at the touch of a button, whenever and wherever they choose.

We hope that this new resource will help York’s businesses of all sectors to confidently support their employees.”

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

"We are excited to be launching our brand-new and innovative Knowledge Hub, which we are confident will support businesses by offering a single source of information on a range of mental health topics. The Hub will also help business leaders by offering a step-by-step guide to creating a mental health strategy which we hope will support businesses to develop a positive mental health culture in their workplaces"

To express your interest, please email corporatewellbeing@yorkmind.org.uk. A member of York Mind staff will get back to you over the coming weeks.