Humberside Fire and Rescue Service sign up to mental health anti-stigma pledge
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service sign up to mental health anti-stigma pledge
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) today became the latest organisation to join the growing number of emergency service employers and associations showing their commitment to ending mental health stigma and discrimination in the workplace by signing the Blue Light Time to Change pledge.
The signing ceremony will take place at Clough Road Fire Station in Hull and representatives from HFRS will pledge their support to the Blue Light Programme, promoting a better understanding of mental health problems while offering support and wellbeing advice to their staff and volunteers.
Chief Fire Officer Dene Sanders said: “By signing the pledge, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service is demonstrating to our staff and to our local communities, our commitment to mental health and wellbeing for all.”
HFRS joins the wide movement of emergency service employers and associations that have pledged to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination, including 63 organisations that signed as part of the Blue Light Programme in 2015 to 2016.
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said: “Not only are many of our blue light personnel struggling with their mental health, but they’re less likely to seek support or have time off sick than the general workforce. Good mental health should be a priority in any workplace but it is especially important that people exposed to traumatic or life-threatening situations – such as those working within the police, ambulance, fire and search and rescue services – receive appropriate support. By signing the Blue Light Time to Change pledge HFRS is helping to fight stigma and promote positive mental health in emergency services.”
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About Mind:
- We’re Mind, the mental health charity. We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect. www.mind.org.uk
- Please note that Mind is not an acronym and should be set in title case.
About the Blue Light Programme:
- Mind was awarded LIBOR funding to develop and deliver a major new programme of mental health support for emergency services staff and volunteers from police, fire, ambulance and search and rescue services across England. Find out more at mind.org.uk/bluelight Organisations can register their interest in signing the Blue Light Time to Change pledge to develop meaningful action plans to support their staff and volunteers, or find out more information about the programme, by emailing bluelight@mind.org.uk or visiting www.mind.org.uk/BlueLight
- The Blue Light Infoline offers confidential, independent and practical information, advice and signposting around mental health and wellbeing to emergency service staff, volunteers and their families in England. The Infoline is available on 0300 303 5999 (lines open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, calls charged at local rates). Alternatively email bluelightinfo@mind.org.uk or text 84999 for a response from one of our advisers during Infoline working hours.