In the June edition of PBM, Editor Paul Davies looked ahead to the BMF Conference in Dubrovnik which added the subject of Mental Health Awareness to the business agenda.
Back in 2013, the theme of the BMF Conference was ‘Fit for the Future’ as the event placed its focus on an industry looking to emerge from the torment of recession. Its most literal manifestation, however, was a session delivered by leading expert in cardiovascular health, Dr Dorian Dugmore.
Discussing corporate wellness and its impact on company performance, Dr Dugmore left a lasting impression on delegates and the messages from his presentation will doubtless still resonate with all those who saw him speak. Indeed, a number of conference attendees enlisted his services to work with their own businesses, whilst the relationship with the BMF has also continued as Dr Dugmore once again addressed a merchant sector audience at last year’s BMF Members’ Day Conference.
At this year’s BMF Conference in Dubrovnik (13-16 June), it is the issue of mental health that takes centre stage. The subject is one we have discussed a number of times before and the industry is to be congratulated on the many steps a great number of organisations in the sector have taken over recent years to raise awareness, reduce stigma and offer much-needed support to both their employees and their customers.
As evidenced by the response to the BBC’s recent documentary, A Royal Team Talk: Tackling Mental Health, which featured conversation between Prince William and a host of well-known (and indeed, unknown…) names from the world of football, simply raising the profile of the issue is one of the single most important factors in breaking down the barriers that remain in place. Frankly, open discussion without fear is an imperative.
“Simply raising the profile of the issue of mental health is one of the single most important factors in breaking down the barriers that remain in place.”
In Dubrovnik, the BMF will welcome award-winning mental health campaigners Neil Laybourn and Jonny Benjamin MBE to the main platform to share their story and offer practical advice on how to work with — and overcome mental health issues — in the workplace.
Neil and Jonny will also lead one of the break-out sessions on the second day of the event, outlining their potentially life-saving campaigning work. Isover Saint-Gobain is sponsoring the session and its MD, David Travill, said: “We are extremely pleased to support this important discussion. A generation ago no one spoke about cancer, but bringing it out in the open increased funding for research and vastly increased survival rates.
“Today we are in a similar position with mental health. Talking about it begins the process of putting mental health on an equal footing to physical health, which will ultimately benefit every one of us, and our businesses.”
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