New employee mental health initiative by the Federation of Small Businesses

Press Releases 8 Oct 2019

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has announced that it is committing to a series of initiatives to increase its employees’ mental health support.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has announced that it is committing to a series of initiatives to increase its employees’ mental health support, including  Mental Health First Aid, access to therapies, advice and emotional support and providing intranet-based resources.

FSB, which is the campaigning membership organisation for the UK’s small businesses, employs 209 full time and part time staff. Statistics from FSB’s health and medical helpline which it offers its members show that more than 20 per cent of primary health concerns presented by small businesses are mental health conditions (over the last two years).

Julie Lilley, Chief Executive of FSB said:

“As we continue to work to help our members promote positive mental wellbeing for themselves, as a small business ourselves, we’re now focusing on a range of initiatives that will have a positive impact on our employees.”

“Just like all smaller business, we want to be a responsible employer and attract and retain the best people we can. We want to put strategies in place to bring the best out of every individual in our talented team. This will also improve productivity meaning that we can better continue to offer our members the best and ensure that the voice of small business continues to be heard by governments at all levels.”

“Better mental health support could save UK businesses up to £8 billion a year, as it is estimated that one in four people experience mental health problems in any year.”

FSB’s employee mental health initiatives include:

  • Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training of employees from across the organisation to be mental health first aiders
     
  • Ensuring employees have access to FSB Care – aservice ran by nurse advisors who provide advice and emotional support and who can arrange appropriate therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
     
  • Launching a mental health wellbeing hub on the intranet with resources and information

Since 2017, FSB has run a series of campaigns and resources to help the UK’s 5.6 million small businesses and self-employed improve their own mental wellbeing and that of their employees. This has included partnerships with Mind and the Royal Foundation to develop a small business mental health toolkit. A new wellbeing in small business award is open for entries as part of the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2020.


Notes to editors

  1. FSB is the UK’s biggest business membership organisation. It is member-led and not-for-profit, offering the self-employed and small businesses a wide range of vital business services and advice, including a medical and health advice service, FSB Care, as well as a powerful voice heard in governments at all levels. It has offices in Blackpool, London, Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff as well as regional divisions across 12 English regions.
     
  2. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is training delivered by Mental Health First Aid England that is a mental health skills and awareness programme. Through the training, people are equipped with the skills they need to support their own and others’ wellbeing. It aims to empower people to notice the signs of mental ill health and encourages them to break down barriers and listen in a non-judgemental way. It also shows them how to signpost to support for recovery.

Media contact

Kerry Curtis

Kerry Curtis

Senior Public Relations Manager

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About FSB

As the UK’s largest business support group, FSB is the voice of the UK’s small businesses and the self-employed. Established over 40 years ago to help its members succeed in business, FSB is a non-profit making and non-party political organisation that’s led by its members, for its members. As the UK’s leading business campaigner, FSB is focused on delivering change which supports smaller businesses to grow and succeed.

FSB offers members a wide range of vital business services, including access to finance, business banking, legal advice and support along with a powerful voice in Government. Each year FSB also runs the UK’s Celebrating Small Business Awards. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk. You can follow us on twitter @fsb_policy and on Instagram @fsb_uk.