A council and its partners have pledged their commitment to ensuring people with mental health needs feel supported and understood in County Durham.
Members of the County Durham Partnership signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge at an event to mark World Mental Health Day.
By signing the pledge, Durham County Council and the Pioneering Care Partnership demonstrated their commitment to introducing positive changes to how they think and act about mental health in the workplace. This includes making sure employees who are facing problems feel supported.
The event also featured key speakers who highlighted innovative approaches to supporting people with mental health needs and the importance of promoting mental health awareness.
Delegates received an update on successful projects, such as Wellbeing for Life and Cree Groups, and were encouraged to share ideas on how to empower communities to become more resilient. Discussions were also held on themes including children and young people, men’s wellbeing and bullying.
Cllr Simon Henig, the Leader of Durham County Council and chair of the County Durham Partnership, said: “We are proud to be part of World Mental Health Day and are committed to raising awareness of the need to support people facing challenges in our communities.
“In County Durham, working together to tackle stigma and discrimination attached to mental health is a key priority, and I would urge all employers sign the Time to Change Pledge.”
The other speakers at the event were: Cllr Lucy Hovvels, the council’s Cabinet member for adults and health services; Amanda Healy, County Durham’s director of public health; and Cormac Russell, managing director of Nurture Development, who spoke about community resilience and how to empower people to help themselves.
Lorraine O’Donnell, the council’s head of transformation and partnerships, also outlined an emerging vision for County Durham, which builds upon the successes of the partnership’s Altogether Better ethos and sets out key priorities for the future.
The vision will be subject to widespread public consultation and residents’ views will be at its heart.
To find out more about Time to Change, visit www.time-to-change.org.uk
For more information about County Durham Partnership and its work, visit www.countydurhampartnership.co.uk