Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Usdaw has long recognised that mental health is a workplace and trade union issue. For many years, Usdaw reps have been alert to the fact the workplace can impact on members' mental health and they play a vital role helping members get the right support.
“This year we have organised our first ever co-ordinated day of action on mental health on Monday 10 October to coincide with World Mental Health Day. It gives us another opportunity to highlight how Usdaw can help members where mental health problems are affecting their performance or attendance at work. It also gives us the chance to place on record our gratitude to Usdaw reps for the work they do, day in day out, supporting members.
“Organising campaign activity on mental health in the workplace can make a big difference by helping to tackle the ongoing stigma. It also helps to let members know that where they are experiencing problems at work for reasons relating to their mental health, we can help. Where the problems go beyond the workplace then the Union can help by signposting members to independent, specialist support organisations.
“Being in a union is good for your mental health. Usdaw reps are talking about mental health and support members at work every day of the year. These conversations aren’t and shouldn’t be confined to one day, or one week of the year.
“The day of action to mark World Mental Health Day provides a focus for raising mental health awareness and what Usdaw can do to help. It is in addition to our reps talking and campaigning about mental health throughout the year. Usdaw’s ‘it’s good to talk’ campaign materials are free and available to order at any time.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.
Usdaw day of action on mental health: www.usdaw.org.uk/DayofActionMH
Usdaw’s ‘it's good to talk’ campaign: www.usdaw.org.uk/Campaigns/Mental-Health
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