WIREDGOV

Mental ill-health remains largely misunderstood in FE colleges according to Lifelong Learning UK, as the latest workforce data reveals no increase on the number of staff declaring a disability.

While the majority of FE staff who have declared a disability (2.7 per cent) prefer not to specify the nature of their impairment, only 0.02 percent of staff state they have a mental health condition compared to 0.5 percent of staff declaring a physical impairment.

With separate research from 'Time to Change' showing that one in four adults experience mental health problems in any one year, Lifelong Learning UK is concerned that not enough is being done to support staff experiencing mental health difficulties.

In a move to de-stigmatise mental ill-health, Lifelong Learning UK is highlighting the issue during Mental Health Week (3-11 October 2009) by providing advice on what FE colleges can do to improve support to staff experiencing mental health issues.
 
What colleges can do:
Follow the recommendations of the Commission for Disabled Staff in Lifelong Learning (2008) by:
. Applying the advice of the Health and Safety Executive on managing stress;
. Adopting a risk-assessment approach to mental health;
. Promoting mental well-being through all their policies, practices and procedures.
. Read the Rethink guide "We Can Work it Out" for line managers on how to make reasonable adjustments for mental ill-health - http://www.rethink.org/.
. Support the national 'Time to Change' campaign to end discrimination faced by people who experience mental health problems - http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/.
 
For more information about Lifelong Learning UK's work on disability disclosure, visit our Disability Equality Implementation Group.