Aberdeen City Council today (Monday 21 February) approved a new Mental Health Action Plan and the continuation of the innovative interventions the local authority is providing for staff.
The Council’s Staff Governance Committee were updated on the positive impact that the programme of mental health wellbeing interventions, approved by the Council in January 2019, have had especially since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A review of the mental health action plan was launched and took place during October to December 2021 to review the impact of the support already provided and identify, based on data and feedback, the most appropriate areas of focus for the year ahead.
Focus groups, including front line staff and trade union representatives were able to provide essential feedback and outline outcome areas to focus on:
1. A targeted programme of support and tools which is easily accessible by all staff;
2. A culture within which mental health and substance misuse issues are proactively supported and destigmatised;
3. Management training, support and development which empowers managers to support their teams confidently and appropriately;
4. Data reporting which allows the organisation to access and interrogate the data in order to target interventions proactively;
5. Reduce the total overall absences that are due to psychological reasons (these have slightly reduced 26.24% of total absences in 2020 to 24.89% in 2021).
Committee Convener, Councillor Yvonne Allan, said: “Since the inception of the original Mental Health Plan officers, in collaboration with trade union colleagues, have undertaken mitigating actions around staff mental health issues and these groups have been instrumental in helping deliver a range of support related to mental health and wellbeing, particularly during the pandemic.
“The review of our interventions is over the last 12 months informs our areas of focus for the year ahead and build upon the range of support mechanisms we already have in place a 365 days a year online and telephone counselling service, a Mental Health First Aid Network comprising trained staff volunteers, training in mental health awareness, mental health champions, access and signposting to external specialists as well as online blogs and videos.
“It is vital, as we progress to a post-pandemic world that we continue with our programme of interventions and ensure that these continue to be tailored to best meet the needs of our staff”.