Update: Before Christmas we reported that our petition, calling for better mental health provisions in the workplace, was being debated in parliament. Unfortunately our debate was postponed due to an emergency parliamentary debate on a no-deal Brexit. But this week, on Thursday 17 January, the debate is back on. This means there's still time to write to your MP and ask them to join in the debate - see below for more information on how to do this!
This week, MPs will be debating Mental Health First Aid in the workplace in Parliament, following ourWhere’s Your Head At?campaign and petition calling for better mental health provisions at work. The debate has been sponsored by a cross-party trio of MPs; Luciana Berger from Labour, Norman Lamb from the Liberal Democrats and Johnny Mercer from the Conservatives and follows our delivery of a 200,000-signatory petition to 10 Downing Street in October 2018.
Luciana Berger explained why this debate is so crucial in changing how we view mental health in the workplace. ‘This debate provides an important opportunity to put forward the proposal of putting mental and physical health first aid on an equal footing. A change in the law would be a step towards achieving real equality between physical and mental health; a principle that Parliament enshrined in law back in 2012 in the Health and Social Care Act.
‘Employers across the country have an important role to play in supporting employees. This plan would ensure employers fully abide by that responsibility.’
The debate follows calls for the Government to follow through on its 2017 manifesto pledge to change the law and put mental and physical first aid on equal footing in the workplace. Even if you’ve already signed the petition, you can still support this at this important next stage in the debate. Get in touch with your MP and ask them to join in the debate on Wednesday. More information on how to do this, plus a sample letter can be found on the campaign website wheresyourheadat.org.