TO mark Mental Health Awareness Week, Finning has revealed it has introduced a raft of practical tools and company-wide initiatives to provide its employees with support and guidance when they need it.
The Cat dealer is continuing to grow its network of mental health first aiders, with 45 members of staff, including members of the senior leadership team, now trained to deal with mental health and wellbeing. The mental health first aiders are identifiable via their ‘Talk to me!’ email banner and day-glow orange lanyard. Their role is to listen to concerns or anxieties colleagues have, and, where appropriate, signpost them to the most relevant support organisations.
They have also been trained to recognise the signs that someone is going through a mental health issue or struggling, so they can sensitively engage in proactive conversations.
Throughout Mental Health Awareness Week, the team of mental health first aiders have been hosting drop-in sessions available to all staff, from those working out in field service, in the workshops to those office or home-based. The sessions include a mix of in-person and online and offer a confidential and supportive place to discuss issues they’re experiencing themselves, or where managers can seek support for team members.
More recently Finning has invested in an online support portal available to all employees. Workspace Solutions is a programme that gives everyone in the company access to a range of tools, including 24/7 counselling support, as well as information for managing mental health together with signposting to organisations who can provide specialised help.
Louise Campbell, process efficiency manager, based at the company’s HQ in Staffordshire, qualified as a mental health first aider in June 2022. She said, “I’ve done a lot of work previously to support vulnerable adults and wanted to continue to use my skills to provide support for my colleagues here at Finning. Our growing community of mental health first aiders meet monthly, but we’re available to provide the necessary reassurance and support to our colleagues whenever they need it.
“We’ve seen an increase in the number of calls or visits over the last year. In 2022 we recorded 372 ‘interactions’ with colleagues from across the company, from all types of roles and locations. This year, we’ve already dealt with 207 calls, which is almost double when compared with this time last year.
“Anxiety in its various form’s factors into many of the calls we deal with, in line with the theme and focus as part of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week.
“We’re seeing a lot of anxiety linked to changes in working conditions post-Covid the transition back to working more frequently in the office. While there’s also a lot of concern about the cost-of-living crisis which we’re all feeling.”
Other newly introduced initiatives include all employees being given a mental health key card for their wallets, which includes contact details to the Finning mental health first aid support line and also signposts to other external support organisations such as the Samaritans.
Louise added, “We have complete buy-in from the leadership team here at Finning who ensure we’re fully supported to provide the help when it’s needed – whatever and whenever that may be. Today during one of the drop-in sessions, a manager I didn’t know dropped in and was looking for guidance on how to deal with a situation with a member of their team – something they’d never had to handle before.
“I was able to talk to them straight away and provide some practical advice about the scenario and signpost them to information to help. The relief on their faces said it all. That’s why I’m passionate about this role.”
Finning revealed the next steps include looking at the geographical spread of the MHFAs to ensure they’re as accessible to all employees. The firm also provides ongoing mental health training, including courses that aim to break down the stigma around talking about mental health and give managers and employees the resources and knowledge to provide real and actionable support.
