Published Date: May 18th, 2023
Fife Council’s Waste Operations Team are championing mental health awareness, especially for men, and spreading the word across Fife.
New hi viz polo shirts and adverts on bin lorries are promoting mental health organisations and charities people can get in touch with for help and self-referrals.
At a roadshow on Wednesday (17 May) at Bankhead for shift workers during Mental Health Awareness Week, ANDYSMANCLUB got to chat with some of the team about mental health, catch up with employees they already work with, raise awareness of the charity, and see their advert on the first lorry.
This week’s roadshow was just one of the several Waste Operations staff have been able to attend thanks to the council. Other sessions have featured Samaritans, HR, Fife Leisure, and Able Futures.
There’s a focus across the council on creating a mentally healthy workplace. As well as roadshows and webinars for all employee groups, volunteers throughout the organisation have been trained as Mental Health First Aiders. The council is also aiming to have every line manager fully trained in mental health and wellbeing, something the waste operations managers are pioneering.
Sandy Anderson, Service Manager for Waste Operations said:
“We’ve experienced the pain of several suicides within the Waste Service. I think it’s vital that all managers have this training so that they are aware of their responsibilities for employees’ mental health and wellbeing and have the skills to deal with mental health in the workplace. There is also a mental health first aider in the team, who’s trained to be a confidential listening ear for anyone who needs help.
“I hope that all these actions together show how important mental health is to us, as an employer and a work family. I’ve taken part in conferences across the country to highlight what we’re doing here in Fife to support our employees’ mental health.
"It’s important for us to talk and share our experiences as individuals to keep ourselves healthy. And I think it’s just as important for managers and leaders across the council and the wider public and private sectors to share best practice, to help everyone.”
ANDYSMANCLUB aims to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation. It has nine groups in Fife men can pop into.
Kenny Armour, ANDYSMANCLUB representative, said:
“ANDYSMANCLUB has been working with Fife council for a number of months now and the support from the Waste Services has been tremendous. The most important thing for us is to be seen in amongst the staff, and the advert on the new polo shirts really help with this. Now having a bin lorry advert is a huge addition and will get our charity name out and amongst all the streets within Fife. The awareness this will raise between Fife Council and the public is massive. A big thank you must go to all involved in making this happen.”
The council want to thank UNISON for contributing towards Waste Operations’ new workwear with the self-referral badges on them and the roadshows.