Written by David Latham

The Swindon Mindful Employer Network is offering free advice and support to local employers on mental health issues in the workplace.

The next network meeting on Wednesday 12th May at the offices of Thring Townsend Lee & Pembertons (Penny Lane) commencing 2.00pm features an Open House and discussion forum. Guest panellists include Adrian Embling (RF Worklife) and Geoff Windle (Swindon Psychology Services).

David Latham, network project leader at Richmond Fellowship Wiltshire says: “The Open House has been designed to be informal following the recent highly successful 2010 conference. Employers have the opportunity to ask our experts about stress and mental health issues effecting their businesses and workforces. This is a wonderful networking occasion and provides representatives with the possibility to share experience and best practice on the issue.”

Adrian Embling and Geoff Windle are providing a free training course to network members at the Swindon Marriott on 28th May which is aimed at supporting line managers dealing with mental health problems in their teams. Guest speaker at the workshop will be Emma Darvill stress champion at the Health and Safety Executive. This event has been over-subscribed and if deemed a success could be repeated in the future.

Adrian Embling, Senior Employment Advisor RF Worklife says: “ We were very pleased at the interest expressed in this half day course. Companies from various sectors and sizes were keen to send people to this event which is a strong indicator that stress is impacting on many organisations. Discovering more about the matter can help your business reduce absence and unwanted costs. Because of demand we hope to repeat the exercise in the near future.”