Occupational Health

Stress Management & Employee Assistance Programme

Mental Health Awareness Week 2013: 13 – 17th May

The Mental Health Foundation are committed to reducing the suffering caused by mental ill health and to help everyone lead mentally healthier lives. This week is their annual Mental Health Awareness Week and it’s an opportunity to let staff know what is available in the University.

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/mentalhealthawarenessweek

‘Scottish Mental Health Week’ http://www.seemescotland.org/getinvolved/scottishmentalhealthweek is 7-13 October 2013

Physical Activity

Research shows that exercise influences the release and uptake of chemicals in the brain that make you feel good. This booklet is a pocket guide to using physical activity to boost your wellbeing.

From simple daily changes like walking for twenty minutes or tending your garden to running a marathon, physical activity can significantly improve your quality of life.

Download the following free guides for more information on how physical activity improves wellbeing and advice on where to start.

Physical_activity

Lets get physical booklet

For further information on gym membership and classes at the Arc http://www.gcu.ac.uk/arc/

EAP Service

The University, in association with CIGNA Healthcare, provides all staff with access to the Ceridian Lifeworks Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

Information for members of staff:

Don't let your mental health condition control you

It’s important to remember that you can't always control what's going on in your life, but you can control how you respond to situations.

To help you, we’ve put together a useful guide that’s packed full information and tips:

Please click on the link below to go to the online guide (You can also download and print the guide).

http://www.cigna.co.uk/cm/mentalhealth/index.html

Information for Employers

Don't let mental health conditions take control

At any given time you'll have employees living with mental health conditions1. It's important to remember that you can't control what's going on in the life of your employees, but you can control how you support them.

To help you understand the condition and what you can do in the workplace, we’ve put together a useful guide that’s packed full information and tips:

background on the condition
what you can do to support employees in the workplace
what you can do at work to help prevent problems.

Click on the link below to go to the online guide (You can also download and print the guide).

http://www.cigna.co.uk/cm/mentalhealth-em/index.html

We hope you find this guide useful. Of course, if you’ve any questions or would like to chat about the condition further, call us on 0141 331 8820 - we’d be happy to help.

The Cigna HealthCare Occupational Health team

Lifeworks

Lifeworks is a free, confidential telephone and web-based information and support service providing you with access to caring professional consultants and counsellors and provides information and support to help you manage stress, balance your budget, health issues, support a loved one through depression or work through times of personal or workplace change.

Where counselling is appropriate this is usually over the phone, however when required it can be arranged face to face via Occupational Health. This takes place off campus at a location suitable to you and is confidential.

The service is normally used for work issues, but can be used for domestic issues which may be impacting upon work.

How to access support

Telephone-based emotional support is available from Lifeworks consultants and counsellors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is accessible via a free-phone number 0800 169 1920 or via the internet at www.lifeworks.com (Login: gcu. Password: lifeworks).

General information and advice is available from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday on a wide range of issues, from harassment to legal information.

The range of services that are available

To view the full range of services provided, please download the Lifeworks Employee Assistance Programme – Summary of Services document.

In addition, access to lifeworks.com provides information in tip sheets, downloads of materials, self-assessments tools, health encyclopaedia etc. Hard copy printed materials and CD’s on various topics can be ordered.

Support Mechanisms

For examples of existing measures available within the University, please see the attached document Examples of Existing Support Measures Available

To view the GCU Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy and other related guidance, please see the following links:

Organisational Development Training

For a list of the available courses please see: http://www.gcu.ac.uk/odonline/

Additional resources

Updated: 13 May, 2013 | Site editor | Legal