Workplace connections can save lives

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust held a Making Meaningful Connections seminar at which participants were asked to consider how the workplace is an ideal setting to help make easy connections between individuals and the support services that could help make a real difference.

Geraldine McDonnell, Senior Health Promotion Officer for the Northern Trust, said: “There are a lot of people who are experiencing mental health crises and emotional distress for a range of reasons – poverty, relationship breakdown, mental health issues, bereavement etc, and who are not aware of, or are not connecting with the excellent support services available locally.

“The workplace can play a valuable and positive role in connecting staff, customers and clients with the support services they need, before things get to absolute crisis point. We welcome managers and staff from a range of agencies and businesses, big and small, to see how easily they can help make life saving connections.

“We all see the value in knowing emergency first aid, and now it’s time to think of how we could help someone in an emotional or mental health crisis – either way we could save a life.”

During the seminar, participants heard presentations from a range of support and mental health charities, including real examples of where simple connections at the right time have actually saved lives.

The event was funded by the Public Health Agency as part of the Northern Area Action Plan for the Protect Life Strategy for NI.