Suffolk Mind urges businesses to invest in mental health support during the cost-of-living crisis
Businesses in Suffolk are being urged to invest in mental health support during the cost-of-living crisis.
Suffolk Mind, alongside its national counterpart, said that the crisis will take a toll on people's mental health.
In particular, it may lead to increased anxiety and depression.
The charities issued the call at a business breakfast event which focused on health and wellbeing at Wherstead Park outside Ipswich on Thursday.
The talk was attended by several speakers, including Mind boss, Paul Farmer, who said the cost-of-living crisis will be tough on both businesses and people.
He added: “This is exactly the moment to increase investment in mental health support for your people, rather than thinking it of something you should be cutting back on.”
The charity highlighted the number of people who feel supported in their mental health in the workplace increased to 70 per cent during the pandemic.
However, this dropped down to 60 per cent this year.
Mr Farmer noted: “It is part of our societal obligation to take the opportunity to educate people about mental health in our workplaces. It is not just the right thing to do, it is the right thing to do for your business.”
Suffolk Mind also provided a sneak-peak at The Mental Health Toolkit at the event, which it will use to help businesses support the wellbeing of their staff.
The charity will be launching this scheme in the autumn.
The talk brought together patrons and partners of the charity.
This includes Bury St Edmunds-based Treatt, who sponsored the event, and support staff wellbeing.
Treatt chief executive Daemmon Reeve said: "We all are suffering something to some degree at all times, all of us as individuals – the pressures of life, family and work. All these stresses and strains means we are all impacted by this critical topic, and we need to engage with it.
"I know some businesses feel mental health support is something they need to do, something additional to the day job. Mental health awareness and engaging with Suffolk Mind is not something you should think about doing, you should have already done it."
