To support Mental Health Awareness Week this year, Portland hosted a Mental Wellbeing discussion with the primary aim to reduce the stigma that’s attached to the phrase ‘mental health’. The event was chaired by Alastair Campbell, with guest speakers Sue Baker, CEO of Time to Change, former Portland Adviser Will Tanner, and Senior Partner Jane Brearley.
Approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. That being said, there is still a taboo attached to having mental health illnesses, which was the focal point of the panel discussion. In what was a remarkably honest and open talk, our speakers candidly spoke about their personal experiences with mental ill health and the challenges we face in dealing with mental health issues.
Following the event, Portland proudly announced that we are publicly signing up to the ‘Time to Change’ pledge. Time to Change is a UK charity that seeks to address the negative connotations to those with mental health problems both in the workplace and outside.
Watch Alastair and Sue discuss the key talking points from the event, as well as the importance of raising awareness to mental health problems in the short video below.