Mental heath advocates at Lloyds Banking Group

Charity partner Lloyds Banking Group have committed to training 2500 colleagues to become Mental Health Advocates by 2020 to help tackle mental health stigma in the workplace.

  • Lloyds Banking Group launch a new programme to train 2500 colleagues as mental health ‘Advocates’ by 2020
  • The role of an Advocate will be to drive cultural change and remove stigma through encouraging open conversation among colleagues
  • The new programme was identified and designed with charity partner Mental Health UK

Now in the third year of our partnership with Lloyds Banking Group to support mental health, they have launched a new project committed to training 2500 colleagues as Mental Health Advocates by 2020.

The Advocates training programme has been developed and is being delivered by Mental Health UK. The role of an Advocate will be to drive cultural change and remove stigma through encouraging open conversation among colleagues.

The programme, chosen and co-developed by Lloyds Banking Group colleagues, will look at the main issues affecting colleagues and equipping them with the skills and knowledge to protect their mental health.

The scheme will help prevent long-term mental health challenges, promote health and wellbeing initiatives, develop practical resources to provide the skills needed for staying mentally healthy and will be delivered via a series of workshops and “Lunch & Learn” sessions. Advocates will have access to digital and online learning, also available to all Lloyds Banking Group colleagues.

Fiona Cannon, Responsible Business, Inclusion and Diversity Director at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “Our ambition is to shift mindset to recognise that we all have mental health, just as we all have physical health, and with the right support we can help our colleagues and customers with mental health conditions to thrive.

We need to do all we can to equip our colleagues with the skills and knowledge to support and protect their mental health as well as their friends and family. We want to empower them to spot the signs of mental illness early, seek help when needed and look out for others who might also be struggling.”

As it is Mental Health Awareness Week, Lloyds Banking Group colleagues are busy getting involved in an abundance of activity. Many colleagues will be sharing their personal stories, deepening their understanding of mental health with e-learning, and taking a more active role by signing up to become a Mental Health Advocate. Whilst others are opting to fundraise for us in a brand new campaign, The BIG Appeal.

Branch colleagues across the UK will be having conversations with customers, increasing awareness of the charity partnership, reducing stigma and fundraising by offering Mental Health UK branded wristbands in return for a suggested £2 donation.

David Oldfield, Executive Sponsor for Disability said: “One of my first tasks as Executive Sponsor for disability was to launch the first internal Mental Health Awareness campaign back in 2014. Since then, Mental Health Awareness Week has become a significant milestone in the Group’s calendar and awareness has reached new heights through our fundraising partnership with Mental Health UK.

Raising awareness of mental health and the steps we can all take to improve our wellbeing continues to be a priority for the Group and we’re aiming to create a culture where mental health and physical health are seen as equal and colleagues can access appropriate support for both when needed”.

Your donation will make the difference

Just £10 could help pay for a call to our advice and information line, supporting someone living with mental illness who may be feeling in distress during this time.

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