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University of Reading

Supporting staff mental health

Wednesday, 13 May 2015

Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental health is the mental and emotional state in which we feel able to cope with the normal stresses of everyday life. If we're feeling good about ourselves we often work productively, interact well with colleagues and make a valuable contribution to our team or workplace.

Positive mental health is rarely an absolute state. One may feel in good mental health generally but also suffer stress or anxiety from time to time.

Mental ill-health can range from feeling 'a bit down' to common disorders such as anxiety and depression and, in limited cases, to severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Because of this, the support we seek to offer staff at the University draws from a suite of resources which aim to enable individuals to deal with difficult situations proactively, but do not in any sense intend to replace the need for specialist, professional care that individuals may require. 

 

Support and resources available to staff include

 

    Helping you - our Employee Assistance Programme

    Sometimes just talking through a problem can help to reduce its impact. The Employee Assistance Programme provides a telephone counselling service which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide support to you on a range of personal and work-related issues such as: stress at work, coping with change or retirement, problems with colleagues, anxiety, stress, depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, relationship problems, divorce, domestic violence, illness or bereavement.  Where appropriate, you can also have up to six face-to-face counselling sessions at a location convenient to you.

    These services are free, confidential and available to all staff.  Call 0800 716 017 and quote "University of Reading" when asked your company name.  To access the website, click on the link http://www.firstassistonline.com and type "Reading EAP" into both the Access Code and Password login boxes.

    The Employee Assistance Programme is provided by Capita and it is fully accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

     

    Helping you - Harassment Advisers

    Any member of staff and student who may experience harassment or bullying can contact a Harassment Adviser and arrange an informal meeting at a location where they feel comfortable. These meetings are held under strict confidence, unless there are very exceptional circumstances. It is the member of staff or student who will drive the meeting and decides on any steps.

    The Harassment adviser will listen to concerns and may suggest options to alleviate the situation or provide guidance on alternative sources.

    Harassment Advisers are members of staff from across the University who have volunteered to undertake this role. They receive continuous training and support each other to provide this important service to all members of staff and students.  

    Contact details and mini-biographies of the Harassment Advisers