// The BRC and Time to Change launch a toolkit to address mental health in the retail industry
// Mental health problems affect 1 in 6 workers each year and is the leading cause of sickness absence
// Mental health first aid training is one way retailers are tackling this issue
The BRC has partnered with Time to Change to launch a new toolkit that aims to help retailers implement a variety of mental health strategies in the workplace.
Mental Wellbeing Toolkit for the Retail Sector provides advice on how to carry out various strategies, such as improving employee mental health literacy and training a group of mental first aiders.
It also includes a series of case studies to demonstrate how successful these approaches have been in the retail setting.
READ MORE: Retailers get behind World Mental Health Day
Meanwhile, mental health first aid training equips people with the skills they need to support their own and others’ wellbeing.
The toolkit’s training courses empower retail staff to notice signs of mental ill health, and encourage them to break down barriers, listen in a non-judgemental way, and signpost to support for recovery.
The BRC said that one in six employees experience mental health issues at work and many suffer in silence.
They added that by implementing the strategies in their new toolkit, retailers can open up important conversations and overturning this taboo.
The BRC said it was working with campaigners from Time to Change on the toolkit, along with RetailTrust, a charity offering support on emotional, physical, vocational and financial wellbeing across the industry.
“We are really excited to launch this toolkit with Time to Change and are confident that it will be a useful aid for many retailers looking to implement a mental health strategy and improve wellbeing more widely,” BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said.
“There is a stigma around mental health, especially in the workplace.
“We hope that this toolkit will help retailers to continue developing a more open, accepting environment and prevent those with mental health issues from suffering in silence.”
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