World Mental Health Day: TALKWORKS launches free workshops for businesses across Devon

Today is World Mental Health Day and the theme is 'Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority'. To help raise further awareness of the mental health and wellbeing support that TALKWORKS can offer, we have launched a series of ‘Wellbeing in the Workplace’ winter workshops, available free of charge for businesses and organisations across Devon (excluding Plymouth).

The workshops will give employees the chance to learn a range of tools and techniques to help improve their mental health and wellbeing. These will include reducing stress, building resilience, creating manageable routines and developing healthy habits, both in the workplace and everyday life. The sessions will be bespoke for each business, enabling flexibility on delivery and timings.

Head of Service Jonny Wilkins spoke about the initiative and why the NHS service is running the workshops: “We recognise that a lot of people may be nervous about reaching out for support if they are struggling with any element of their mental health. We also know that most employers want to do everything they can to support their staff – particularly at what is a very difficult time for many people. We’ve developed these workshops as a first step to accessing support. To ensure the sessions are accessible to as many people as possible, we are offering to go into workplaces and deliver workshops face-to-face, as well as online for staff who work from home.”

TALKWORKS is available to access for adults over the age of 18, living in Devon (with the exception of Plymouth which has its own service called Plymouth Options), struggling with a common mental health problem. The service is part of Devon Partnership NHS Trust, which provides mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services across Devon (excluding Plymouth). All treatment and support is provided free of charge.

If you would like to find out more information about the workshops, please email dpt.talkworksworkshop@nhs.net, visit the TALKWORKS website or call 0300 555 3344.