Wiltshire Council is allocating £160,950 to initiatives aimed at supporting employees suffering from poor mental health.

The funding comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and forms part of the Sustaining Work aspect of the scheme, which will run until March 31, 2025.

It's intended to combat the issue of deteriorating mental health among workers, encouraging a healthier work environment and reducing levels of sickness absence directly linked to mental health struggles.

The recipients of this grant - Help Counselling, Wiltshire Mind, Open Mind Training and Consultancy, and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust - will use the investment to bolster preventative measures and early interventions in the workplace.

Aimed at reaching some of the less accessible groups, these initiatives will target those aged 16-25, routine, manual workers, and rural businesses.

Help Counselling will launch ‘Thriving at Work: The Workplace Counselling Programme’, which features free one-to-one counselling sessions for individuals struggling with mental health whilst employed.

As many as eight sessions can be provided either virtually or in person.

Open Mind Training and Consultancy will deploy comparable strategies, including digital tools for business use, such as a collection of films exploring typical mental health issues to aid certified Mental Health First Aiders in their workplace.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's 'Wild Workplaces' is geared towards preventing mental health issues and early intervention.

It involves open engagement sessions to initiate discussions about mental health at work, identify the advantages of investing in mental health support systems, and raise general awareness of the subject.

Cllr Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council and cabinet member for economic development, said: "These days we are all more aware of our mental health and wellbeing, especially in the workplace, which is why we want people to know that there is always support available to those who are struggling.

"This funding will provide local firms with the knowledge and practical tools they need to help improve their mental wellbeing, and I hope local businesses take advantage of these programmes on offer, to better the health of their employees.

"It’s a key priority in our Business Plan to help residents to prioritise and optimise their health and mental wellbeing, and this is just one of the initiatives that we’re implementing to make this a reality."