Opening the debate on mental health at Usdaw’s Annual Delegate Meeting in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Dave McCrossen – Usdaw Deputy General Secretary said: “We can all be extremely proud of the work this union is doing on the issue of mental health. It's no exaggeration to say that we have led the way in the trade union movement, helping to ensure that mental health at work is seen as a trade union issue.
 
“Mental health has been a taboo subject for far too long, but our 'It's good To Talk' Campaign, run by reps, has started to make a real difference. Making it possible for members to open up about the problems they are facing, to get the right support at work and where necessary, to be signposted to specialist services outside of the workplace. I hope we are a lot nearer now, to moving away, once and for all, from the notion that mental health problems are a sign of weakness.
 
“The majority of us will at some point in our lives experience a mental health problem. Anxiety and depression are common. The chances are, that every single one of us has been affected in some way. If not personally, then through supporting a family member, a friend, or a work colleague and if you have been touched by this issue in any way, you will know that talking about mental health: listening to someone, giving them the time to talk, can make all the difference.
 
“It can literally be lifesaving. So I say to those reps who have run a workplace mental health campaign, to those who have supported a member with depression or anxiety, the work you are doing is of the utmost importance.
 
“We know that workers with mental health problems still face high levels of discrimination and prejudice. Negative attitudes towards people with mental illness have far from disappeared. There is evidence of steady progress in recent decades, but some prejudices and stereotypes remain deeply ingrained within our society and they are regularly reinforced by the media.
 
“Attitudes matter. What we think and say about people with mental health problems, has real consequences for their lives. The stigma that surrounds this issue leads to people feeling that they have to hide their problems and this in turn prevents people seeking help. It delays treatment and slows down recovery. It excludes people from everyday activities and isolates them.
 
“The work the Union is doing on mental health, is so important. If we can give members who might be experiencing problems, a sense that the union understands the issue, they are more likely to open up and in turn get the support they need at work. Mental health continues to be a huge issue for this union. We are committed to keeping this conversation going.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 420,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
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