Shift are taking requests for copies of Working it Out, a new DVD-based resource for employers.

Working it Out is a comprehensive new resource pack designed to help raise awareness of mental health conditions in the
workplace and provide employers with practical advice and guidance on how best to support and manage a member of staff should they become unwell.

The DVD, free to employers and organisations based in England, includes a brand new set of short employment films with accompanying training notes and other resources.

The Working it Out DVD contains:

Working It Out employment films

The five short films show employees recounting their real-life experiences of mental health conditions within the workplace, mixed with dramatic reconstructions. The films also feature managers who describe how they effectively managed and supported their staff using best practice approaches.

Training notes that accompany the ‘Working it Out’ employment films. (PDF format)

These notes are to be used in conjunction with the five Working it Out film modules. They suggest discussion topics and activities for a facilitated training session.

The Shift Line Managers’ Resource (PDF format)

A 32-page practical guide to managing and supporting people with mental health problems in the workplace. It is recommended that this resource is used in conjunction with the training notes.

‘Life in the Office’ employment films.

Shift’s original employment films. A series fictional short films designed to raise awareness and encourage discussion of mental health in the workplace. The films also include an interview with one of the actors, who talks about his own personal experience of mental health problems.

Personal Stories.

Short film clips in which people talk about their real-life experience of mental health conditions at work and what has helped them to manage their condition and remain in work.

Working it Out is being made available for World Mental Health Day and will be distributed through-out England until Shift ends in March 2011. To request a free copy of the DVD, order them directly online by going to http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

You can also view the films and resources online at: http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

Tags: shift, reviewpanel, employment, workingitout, lifeintheoffice, lmr

The Community Channel will be broadcasting Shift's Life in the Office short films, starting today. The channel will also be showing a new programme in which actor Brett Findlay talks about his role in the films and his own experience of mental health problems.

You can tune in to the Community Channel on Sky channel 539, Virgin TV channel 233 and, between the hours of 6-9am, on Freeview channel 87.

• Find out when Shift's employment films are being shown on the Community Channel
  
• Watch the films online and download related materials
  
• Find out about other upcoming programmes featuring mental health issues

Tags: lifeintheoffice, employment, films

Shift has launched three short films to encourage staff and employers to think about mental health at work.

The films can be viewed online at http://shift.org.uk/employers

• Watch Bernies reaction to someone with ‘problems upstairs’
• See if you can relate to Pauls frustration at the photocopier
• Feel the anxiety when Sarah returns to work and finds that not everyone is as welcoming as she had hoped.

The films are aimed at employers and employees who do not consider mental health problems to be a workplace issue. We hope that the films will reach new audiences and link more people in to the existing support structures.

We are very interested to hear any feedback about these films. If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact claire.newall@csip.org.uk

To watch the films, visit http://www.shift.org.uk/employers

Tags: employment, shift, films, videos, youtube, lifeintheoffice