Cambridgeshire Mindful Employer Network

Mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, list among the top reasons for absence from work

The cost to UK businesses is an estimated £25.9 billion per year and, with one in four people affected, Cambridgeshire employers cannot afford to be blasé about their own mental health — or that of their workforce.

Hence Cam-mind has joined forces with Hunts Mind and Peterborough & Fenland Mind (working jointly as the Cambridgeshire Minds Partnership) to facilitate the launch of a Cambridgeshire-wide Mindful Employer Network. The aim is to support local employers in looking after the mental wellbeing of their staff and to encourage more business and organisations across the county to sign up to the national Mindful Employer Charter.

Working alongside the Cambridgeshire Minds Partnership to make this happen is a steering group made up of a wide range of other public, private and voluntary sector organisations.

Mindful Employer is a nationally recognised charter mark, with members ranging from government agencies to high street building societies. It provides a way for employers to demonstrate commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of their staff. It aims to increase awareness of mental health at work, support employers in the recruitment and retention of staff and make it easier to talk about mental health in the workplace.

And the business case is compelling...