The Bristol business making positive changes in mental health

In the UK, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem like anxiety and depression every week.

At Baltimore Consulting, we are continually seeking to improve, and as such, have enhanced our already extensive mental health offering to support our employees.

2023 statistics suggest that a third of managers feel out of their depth in trying to support their team with mental health concerns. CEO of Baltimore Consulting, Charmaine Vincent is passionate about the business and the people in it, appreciating that one size does fit all, and has worked with the business’s Director of People, Louise Foster, to develop our mental health and wellbeing plan across several areas, including the number qualified mental health first aiders in the business and a new EAP system.

As part of our continued commitment to our employees, we have launched a new and exciting partnership with Wellbeing Solutions; an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offering free, confidential counselling and wellbeing support services that are available to all employees and their families. This new premier offering includes broader mental health support services and the option for face-to-face counselling, as well as telephone, video call and live chat alternatives.

We introduced our first EAP system in 2021, post pandemic, when we noticed that our employees required additional layer of support; poor mental health accounts for more than half of all work-related illnesses. Around 51% of long-term sick leave is due to stress, depression, or anxiety.

This is Baltimore Consulting’s third EAP program, having listened to employee feedback and invested heavily over the last 3 years to ensure that staff were provided with the best possible opportunities for support – for us, life is not standing still, and we make sure we get under the bonnet of our employee’s needs in order to fulfil their requirements.

It’s essential that we promote a positive view of mental health, and we work hard to provide a safe space for employees, empowering them to use these services without judgement.

These additions to our mental health and wellbeing plan coincide with life coaching sessions, a 4-day working week and “duvet days” that are already offered by the big-hearted business.

Baltimore Consulting offer time off to dedicate to wellness on a weekly basis. There are so many mental health benefits to exercising, from reducing anxiety and depression through to improving self-esteem and cognitive function. But, when life’s busy, it can be difficult to find time for wellbeing-boosting activities.

As part of Baltimore Consulting’s integral charity partnership with Bristol Mind, employees were given additional time off during Mental Health Awareness Week to take part in a steps challenge, raising funds for the charity’s Big Give campaign as well as taking care of their own wellbeing.

We were able to raise £560 for the campaign, providing young adults in Bristol 1-2-1 counselling, with specialist focus on LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse communities.

Baltimore Consulting are the Senior Appointment and niche recruitment experts to the Public Sector, with a passion for making a difference to people’s lives within the community.

Since inception in 2013, we have continued to fulfil hiring requirements and support vulnerable subject areas such as, Mental Health, SEN & Safeguarding Adults and Children across Local Government and Education.

Our story is truly unique, and we are proud of that. It’s part of our DNA.

Author

Lauren Cox

Head of Marketing