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‘Champions’ needed to fly mental health flag

BUSINESSES need someone to fly the flag for mental health, the head of workplace wellbeing for Mind UK said.

Emma Mamo, head of workplace wellbeing for Mind UK, has recently visited the island. 
(Picture by Steve Sarre, 21171980)
Emma Mamo, head of workplace wellbeing for Mind UK, has recently visited the island. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 21171980) / Guernsey Press

Emma Mamo has worked at the charity for more than 13 years and since 2010 has led the campaign for mentally healthy workplaces.

Guernsey Mind has been operating a project with employers on the island, training ‘champions’ in mental health first aid.

Miss Mamo, who was visiting the island, said the working environment in Guernsey creates its own challenges and these ‘champions’ could help solve those.

‘The profile of employers in Guernsey is quite financial and public sector based, so they will have some inherent challenges,’ she said.

‘People need downtime to recharge. These industries have a culture of long working hours, which are contrary to mental health.

‘If an employer wants to address mental health in the workplace it has to be from the top down and the bottom up.

‘One way to do that is finding people in your workplace that are committed and passionate about mental health, they can act as a champion.

‘They can be in different roles in different working environments, but it’s key to have someone to fly the flag for mental health.’

Miss Mamo added that Guernsey Mind has seen a better perception of mental health from businesses recently, but it has been a slow process and businesses may still need to change their perception.

‘There is a real groundswell of awareness in Guernsey, but it’s about seeing employers take action,’ she said.

‘Guernsey Mind have a growing client base, but it’s a bit of a slow burner.

‘We have to get beyond stereotypes of what people living with mental health problems look like.

‘Because actually it’s all of us, we all are on the spectrum, we can all struggle.

‘Yes you can have a diagnosed mental health condition, but we can all be having tough times linked to life events.

‘Mental health is everybody, it’s not just them over there.’