Working Families and Wellbeing

Mental Health at Deacons

Why we begin

According to World Health Organization, mental health is one of the most neglected areas of public health and some studies indicate that many mental health conditions often go undiagnosed or unreported by employees. As such, cultivating a work environment that openly encourages discussion and access to resources is crucial. No employee should feel hesitant to seek help or share information about their mental wellbeing due to concerns about how it may affect their role or career advancement.

Instead of reacting to stigma, we want to be more proactive in discussing and spotting the early signs that someone may be struggling with, before issues escalate. Through Mental Health First Aider (MPFA) training, we educate our staff about mental health conditions, their symptoms and effective ways to provide initial support.

Our approach

We equip our staff with the knowledge and skills to identify early signs and symptoms of mental health issues. Just like physical health problems, early intervention and providing initial support are crucial for effective treatment and prevention of further complications.

All employees who completed the MHFA training are invited to join our internal mental health support team. Those trained are encouraged to discuss mental health issues with teams and peers, boosting visibility. Our goal is to create an ecosystem where our people know they can turn to us for help, whenever they need it.

The training cuts across various practice groups, business service functions, positions and career levels. This is to ensure that our approach has an inclusive impact and comprehensive coverage that creates a consistent and pervasive culture of mental health support.

Our Mental Health First Aiders

We grow our own internal mental health support team which contributes to encouraging our people to be more open about their own mental health challenges and seek assistance without fear of judgment when they need. This approach helps ensure that anyone experiencing mental health challenges has access to timely, compassionate assistance from their peers.

Ultimately, we believe that investing in a culture of care and connection is not only the right thing to do, but also a strategic imperative that will strengthen the overall health and resilience of our firm.

Other Support

Our Employee Assistance Program (“EAP”) provides a range of support services and resources to employees and their families, including private counselling, stress management, training and referrals. EAP is not only for severe problems, it is designed to support our people in range of concerns and offer early intervention. This can effectively help our people to navigate personal and family challenges, addressing mental health concerns, resolving conflicts and accessing the necessary support.