SUSSEX Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has pledged its support to the fight against mental health stigma in the workplace.

The organisation provides mental health services and learning disability services for all ages in Sussex.

It has joined forces with Time To Change, the growing social movement run by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness which supports people to open up to mental health problems.

Trust CEO Sam Allen signed the pledge, joining hundreds of other organisations up and down the country in a commitment to change the way we all think and act about mental health in the workplace.

Sam said: “With our services under ever increasing pressure we know that in order to continue providing outstanding care to our patients, we must ensure our staff are working in an environment where they are cared for and feel able to talk openly about their mental health.

“One of our organisational values is to put people at the centre of everything we do and signing the Time To Change pledge is a huge part of this.

“We are proud to be part of this initiative.”

Sussex Partnership joins the wide movement of more than 450 organisations that have signed up to the Time to Change pledge, which includes many NHS trusts, universities, and local authorities.

Time to Change is funded by the Department of Health, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund.

Set up to create a positive shift in public attitudes towards mental health problems, Time to Change supports communities, schools and workplaces to open up to mental health problems; to talk and to listen.

West Sussex has its own Time to Change hub, which launched in March 2017, and works with local organisations to change the way people think about mental health.

The West Sussex hub is co--ordinated by Coastal West Sussex Mind in Worthing.

Katie Glover, Associate Governor of Sussex Partnership and Chief Executive of Coastal West Sussex Mind, said: “We are delighted that Sussex Partnership has signed the Employer Pledge, demonstrating its commitment to employees who may need support around mental health.

“It is so important that our big public providers lead the way and model this good practice.”

To find out more about the Time to Change employer pledge, go to www.time-to-change.org.uk and search “employer pledge” or alternatively call Coastal West Sussex Mind on 01903 277000.

To find out about the services that Sussex Partnership provides, go to www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk

Coastal West Sussex Mind is an independent local mental health charity.

Time to Change supports communities, schools and workplaces to open up to mental health problems; to talk and to listen.

Comic Relief is committed to supporting people living with mental health problems.

Big Lottery Fund supported the first phase of Time to Change with more than £20 million.