LAST UPDATED NOVEMBER 2023

Our employees' health, safety and wellbeing is of utmost importance to us at Distinctly which is why our core values include ‘take care’ and ‘open up'.

If you do find yourself dealing with a mental health issue, we would encourage you to speak openly to a member of senior management. This could be either in one of your regular 1-to-1s or at any time that you feel you need support.

Any issue or challenges you discuss internally will be dealt with in the strictest confidence. However if you feel unable to speak to someone in the team about it there are many other resources also available which we would encourage you to seek out.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDERS

If you are experiencing a mental health problem or think that someone else is, we have a team of trained Mental Health First Aiders who are able to provide support.

The role of MHFAs

• Recognise and spot the early signs and symptoms of poor mental health
• Be supportive and available to have conversations with a person who may be experiencing poor mental health
  • Encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports
• Listen to the person non-judgmentally and with empathy
• Maintain confidentiality as appropriate
• Be clear on boundaries and role that a MHFA can have in dealing with poor mental health
• Actively promote supporting mental health and provide education to reduce the stigma

Our Mental Health First Aiders are trained to listen to you, give any initial support and then signpost information or appropriate professional help. Conversations will be kept in strictest confidence, provided that you are not at serious risk of harm.

To find out more about our Mental Health First Aiders see Distinctly Connect.

EXTERNAL SUPPORT

WPA Through our WPA Health Insurance you have access to an Employee Assistant Programme (EAP). Our EAP gives you 24 hr access to the following: Telephone Counselling, Wellbeing and Health Information, Debt and Money Management, Legal Information support and more.

The EAP phone number is 0800 915 8085

Accessing the EAP does not affect your health insurance excess, and can be used as many times as you need.

NABS NABS is the support charity for the advertising and media industry. They offer expert, impartial advice and provide practical solutions. They are passionate about the industry we work in and recognise it can only be as good as the people who work within it.

They have a free advice line where you can talk confidentially with one of their advisors who are experienced in a whole host of workplace and personal subjects, including (but not exclusive to):

• Anxiety/stress
• Bereavement
• Money management and more

Anyone in the industry can make use of the NABS Advice Line service. If you’d like help with any of the above or something similar, give NABS a call on 0800 707 6607 between 09:00–17:30, use their online bot or email [email protected] for tailored advice and guidance. NABS aims to respond to all calls and emails within 24 hours.

OTHER RESOURCES

There are many external resources available for additional mental health support such as: