New mental health guidance for UCL managers

UCL Human Resources has just published new guidance for managers that is focused on promoting mental wellness in the workplace.

The guidance provides a short overview of mental health conditions, discusses mental health in academia, the impact of organisational culture, and provides practical advice on supporting colleagues.

The guidance was formally launched by Professor David Lomas, Vice Provost (Health) and Professor Alan Thomson (Dean of the Faculty of Brain Sciences.) The launch event included a very special recital from Rogan Wolf of the 'Poems for' project (www.poemsfor.org.) The poems selected to accompany the launch explore, and seek to give expression to, what life is like for people with mental health problems. They were put together in the belief that poetry can speak in a way which brings things home to people. It can offer personal and vivid connection to the subjects in hand. The sentiment behind using poetry to launch this guidance is that it offers an indirect vehicle for emotional, as well as intellectual engagement on this sensitive and often stigmatised  topic.

Colleagues are asked to download the poems and exhibit them in their departments to help promote the new Mental Health Guidance. Both can be found here: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/equalities/disability/support_for_managers.php

Fiona McClemen, Equalities & Diversity Manager, Human Resources Division