Asked by: Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination as a result of signing up to the Time to Change Pledge.
Answered by Claire Perry
Since signing the Time to Change pledge on 26 February 2014, the Department has made significant steps to help reduce the stigma around mental health issues. These include:
· Establishing a staff-led Time to Change Working Group;
· Staff blogs describing their own personal experiences dealing with mental health issues, which have had a big impact in encouraging others to join the conversation;
· Regular blog and updates of progress from Director General (and DfT’s Disability Champion);
· Events on mental health included as part of the Department’s health and wellbeing week and its diversity and inclusion week;
· Promoting Time to Talk Day through, for example, senior-leadership team cascades and the distribution of materials to help start more conversations about mental health;
· A pilot of mental health first-aid training courses;
· Promoting guidance and information on the Department’s Intranet, including the support available through our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP).
· Employing a health and wellbeing coordinator tasked with removing barriers faced by people with mental health issues.
The Department is also part of the Time to Change Whitehall Learning Peer Network where colleagues across Whitehall share learning and resources.