Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board today (October 10) signs the Time to Change Wales Pledge to support staff in reducing mental health stigma in the workplace

Today (October 10, 2022) we celebrate World Mental Health Awareness Day and are delighted to have once again partnered with ‘Time to Change Wales’ to help us support our staff in reducing mental health stigma within the workplace.  

The Time to Change Wales Pledge is a public declaration that an organisation wants to step up to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination. Members of the Employee Wellbeing team have worked closely with Time to Change Wales to develop an action plan to demonstrate the ways in which this will be achieved.

Chief Executive, Paul Mears signed the Pledge on behalf of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and said: “I have signed the Time to Change Wales Pledge today to show that we are committed as a Health Board to tackling mental health stigma and discrimination.  We will, as an organisation, aspire to create a culture where staff feel they can speak up and talk about their mental health and ask for support if they need it.  We want Cwm Taf Morgannwg to be a great place to work for our staff and I would like to thank Time to Change Wales on behalf of the Health Board in supporting us to do this.”

A Time to Change Wales 2020 survey looked at the link between COVID-19 and mental health stigma. It highlighted healthcare settings as one of the key areas where stigma is experienced by people with mental health problems in Wales. (Stigma during COVID-19 survey, Time to Change Wales, June 2020.) Aimed at shaping future mental health training for healthcare staff, Cwm Taf Morgannwg has worked in collaboration with Time to Change Wales and Swansea Bay University Health Board to pilot a ‘live’ online module to equip staff to improve the lived experiences and outcomes for individuals affected by mental health, by better identifying how, and where, experiences of mental health stigma can happen in healthcare settings. 

Over 300 clinical and non-clinical staff members have completed the module, with staff reporting an increased understanding and identification of mental health stigma and discrimination within the workplace, recognising that stigma does happen and affects behavior and experiences of care. Staff also felt they were able to recognise self-stigma and ask for help as well as encourage others to ask for help. Following evaluation of the module, Time to Change Wales were pleased to announce that Welsh Government have provided funding for the module to be provided across NHS Wales.

Dr Andrea Davies, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Interim Head of Mental Health Psychology said: “The past two and a half years have impacted on us all and I am thrilled that Cwm Taf Morgannwg will be joining the 200 organisations across Wales who have already made the pledge to actively address stigma in the workplace.  Focusing on discrimination in health and social care settings is a tremendous opportunity to improve the experiences for those receiving and giving care across our region. By signing the pledge, we are continuing discussions around stigma, engaging healthcare professionals in self-reflection and supporting them to take action around tackling stigma. Advancing staff awareness of the Time to Change Wales campaign ensures that we are able to maximise the opportunity to attend the module during 2023 as we empower and equip our staff to reflect on current practice and identify ways of improving experiences of patients with mental health issues in a non-judgmental way.”

Lowri Wyn Jones, Time to Change Wales Programme Manager said: “We are delighted that Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board have announced that they have signed the Time to Change Wales Employer Pledge on World Mental Health Day today. This is such a positive step to reducing mental health stigma in the workplace and to create a healthy working environment for all staff to stay well in work. We are looking forward to supporting Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board on our shared mission to eradicate mental health stigma in workplaces and communities across Wales.  

"The theme for World Mental Health today is to make mental health a global priority and Time to Change Wales are leading this work by tackling mental health stigma and discrimination in workplaces and communities across Wales. The campaign is now in its fourth phase, with a mission to change attitudes and challenge mental health stigma faced by people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and those experiencing poverty. We are also committed to opening up our initiative to smaller businesses as they also need our support to challenge the mental health stigma that may be rife in their communities. 

"Get in touch with Time to Change Wales today and join Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board and hundreds of other organisations to end mental health stigma and discrimination in Wales."

Clare Wright, Strategic Lead for Wellbeing and Consultant Clinical Psychologist said: “Since its inception in June 2020, the Wellbeing Service has worked hard to promote positive emotional wellbeing for staff, and to develop and deliver interventions that meet the needs of staff who may be struggling. We have seen a huge increase in staff talking about their emotional and physical wellbeing and about issues, such as menopause, as a result. We are really excited to be partnering with Time to Change Wales, to tackle discrimination and stigma in the workplace. We all have mental health, to stay well we all have to care for our emotional wellbeing, and we are determined to support staff to thrive so that, in turn, they can offer the best possible care to our patients.”