A team of workplace health experts from Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Institute of Mental Health will be part of a new partnership of Midlands organisations awarded £6.8 million in funding by Midlands Engine for a three-year programme of work to address the impact mental health in the workplace has on productivity. The Mental Health and Productivity pilot will find innovative ways to reduce levels of sickness absence and the number of people falling out of work due to mental health conditions.
The funding, which has come via central government, was awarded after a competitive tender process to a partnership will be led by Coventry University and supported by the University of Warwick and the West Midlands Combined Authority. The partnership includes 20 organisations from across the Midlands, including business, local authorities, Public Health, Charities, NHS Midlands, Midlands Innovation Universities and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The University of Nottingham team in this partnership includes Dr Louise Thomson and Dr Juliet Hassard (School of Medicine), Professor Richard Kneller (School of Economics), and Dr Holly Blake (School of Health Sciences).
Midlands Engine Programme Director Fiona Piercy said:
“Mental health has a huge impact on productivity with 15.4 million working days lost every year due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2017/18. This pilot is a fantastic opportunity for the Midlands to find new and proven ways to support people with mental health conditions to remain in work and be effective in their roles. It cannot be underestimated the positive impact this work could bring to our region and I am delighted to be working with our chosen partners to achieve this.”
Professor Guy Daly, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Health and Life Sciences, said:
“Over the next three years, the Midlands Engine Mental Health Productivity Pilot will engage with over 1,600 businesses, train 45,000 staff and offer a free online resource that aims to reach one million people. Together we will deliver a step change in the support offered to employers and employees, which will deliver better mental health, leading to higher levels of productivity across all types of organisations in the East and West Midlands."
More news about the funding award and project can be found on the Midlands Engine website.
Posted on Monday 17th June 2019