Mental health tops the agenda at successful roundtable event

Improving mental health in the workplace was top of the agenda for 12 West Midlands organisations representing a combined workforce of more than 20,000 employees at a recent roundtable discussion.

The Kaleidoscope Plus Group hosted a successful and engaging roundtable discussion on ‘Enhancing Workplace Mental Health’, providing a valuable platform for leaders across industries to share insights, challenges and best practices on promoting mental wellbeing in the workplace.

The roundtable discussion underscored the importance of building a positive workplace culture where mental health is a priority.

Participants emphasised that culture is key to fostering an environment that supports mental wellbeing. A central theme of the conversation was the critical role of senior leadership in championing mental health initiatives, highlighting that sustainable change requires commitment from the top.

Calum Nisbet, CEO of the Kaleidoscope Plus Group, said: “We are thrilled with the level of engagement and depth of insights shared during this roundtable. It is clear that enhancing workplace mental health is a shared priority, and we are encouraged by the commitment shown by the participating organisations.

“Together, we can create workplaces where people not only succeed but also feel safe and supported. We look forward to continuing the ongoing conversation.”

It was also noted that mental health interventions must be carefully implemented. Attendees discussed the potential for these initiatives to become overwhelming if not properly tailored to the needs of staff, stressing the need for thoughtful planning and clear communication.

A significant focus of the discussion was the evolving role of line managers, which has changed substantially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

With increased responsibilities for supporting team members’ emotional well-being, there is a greater need for emotional intelligence among managers.

This shift in responsibilities has made line managers pivotal in creating a safe and supportive environment for employees and organisations have a responsibility to ensure they are properly trained in promoting Mental Health and supported appropriately.

Another critical point raised was the need to adapt approaches for different demographics within the workforce, which is an ageing one across most businesses represented.

With traditional values and a more private nature, they differ from younger employees, who tend to have stricter boundaries and lower tolerance for unhealthy work environments, requiring new strategies for engagement and support. Understanding and respecting these differences is key to creating a workplace where all employees can thrive.

The roundtable also highlighted that a focus on psychological safety is essential to any successful well-being strategy.

Attendees agreed that a culture where employees feel safe to express their concerns and seek support without fear of judgment is foundational to improving mental health outcomes.

Unfortunately, many businesses reported back that there is still a certain amount of stigma throughout their organisation with employees masking mental health absences with other reasons.

Finally, the discussion acknowledged the unique challenges faced by businesses that operate 24-hour, multisite operations.

Developing and implementing effective mental health strategies in these environments requires a tailored approach to address the complexities of shift work, remote teams, and varying levels of access to support. Implementing initiatives such as employee platforms, encouraging two way communication and offering services such as Virtual GPs was highlighted as a successful way of all employees feeling valued.

The roundtable was attended by Hayley Russell of Wesleyan, Antoinette Farrell-Jones of Birmingham Airport, Eman Al-Hillawi of Entec Si, Michaela Pound of Palletways, Wendy Sycamore of Openreach, Thomas Valentine of Birmingham Hippodrome, Mark Newton of Rolls Royce Control Systems, Rachel Pardoe of Talbots Law, Tracy Evans of Pertemps, Sarah Farnell of Black Country Housing Group, Sophie Petrie of West Midlands Police and Faye Brecknock of Kaleidoscope Plus Group.