Minutes of Cross Party Group on Mental Health
17th May 2022
12.00 – 13.00
Virtual - Teams
In attendance:
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1. Welcome and Introduction
Ken Skates MS (KS) introduced topic for discussion, mental health in the workplace, by saying people needed to feel safe and supported in their workplaces. The Welsh Government’s Economic Contract placed mental health at the centre of economic strategy and provided a platform to build on. KS introduced those presenting
2. Gwyneth Sweatman, Head of Media and Communications, Federation of Small Businesses
3. Rachel Suff, Senior Policy Adviser, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
4. Linsey Imms, Union Learning & Support Officer, Wales TUC
5. Discussion
James Radcliffe (Platfform) highlighted employers asking people to come in with Covid or if they are ill. This is a golden opportunity to reform sickness absence, as isolation has been ended. How can the workplace become a psychologically safe place for people to be? How can we strengthen these messages to employers?
KS suggested writing to Vaughan Gething and potentially also inviting him to a future meeting
June Jones (Time to Change Wales) highlighted TTCW employer pledge as a first step to encouraging organisations to take the first step. Many staff continue to feel uncomfortable in opening up to their managers
Richard Jones (Mental Health Matters Wales), been providing free mental health training courses over the last year, funded by Welsh Government. Very little private sector uptake in the training. Needs a wider range of organisations to push this offer and opportunity, eg via TUC, CIPD
KS Mental Health First Aid should be in place in terms of getting funding from Welsh Government
Liz Williams (RNIB) employment is a protected factor for mental health. Blind or partially blind people can be excluded from employment opportunities or development opportunities and this impacts on their mental health.
Gwyneth Sweatman (FSB), important point, a hub has been launched on FSB website to better encourage businesses to consider what support is needed.
David Lee (Wales Mental Health & Wellbeing Forum) Are there any stats or insight in terms of neurodiversity? Need to recognise mental health and neurodiversity.
Linsey Imms (Wales TUC) some work on neurodiversity in workplace has been undertaken, which reflects David’s experiences (https://www.tuc.org.uk/autism-awareness-workplace). Recommendations in the report for how people can be better supported.
Emma Gooding (Samaritans Cymru) how can we as a sector work to address mental health in the workplace through an inequality lens? Those in least skilled professions, facing downsizing, in insecure employment, are at greater risk. How do we reach those and track what is going on?
Peter Williams (Wales Mental Health & Wellbeing Forum) Area where carers have a dilemma, if they are in work, they need the flexibility to look after their family member. Additional roles during the pandemic as they have had to give up work as professional care is not available. What help and support would be available?
Linsey Imms (Wales TUC) highlighted that they have a survey on carers experiences of juggling work and caring responsibilities (https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/working-and-looking-after-others-new-survey)
6. Next Steps
KS suggested that he write to Vaughan Gething on behalf of the group capturing the nature of the discussion.
Also worth thinking about what we want from the future mental health strategy and potentially inviting different Ministers to attend to see where their work crosses over with mental health. As an example Hanah Blythyn MS to talk about the Social Partnership Bill and perhaps Jane Hutt in terms of social justice.