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Springer Nature says it has become the first academic research publisher to sign up to the Time to Change employer pledge to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination.
Approaching 1,000 employers in England have signed up to the pledge from Time to Change, an initiative of charities Mind and Rethink Mental Health, with publisher Pearson and Cambridge Assessment already among the signatories.
Springer Nature is making a series of commitments, encouraging employees to talk about their experiences of mental health issues, providing more information and mental wellbeing and support services, and equipping managers with skills to discuss mental health with their staff.
A group of 17 employees, who have volunteered as "wellbeing champions", will guide colleagues to available resources, shape a "wellbeing agenda" for Springer Nature in the UK and "play a key role in fostering a positive culture by embedding this role into their working day". All line managers will also be trained to discuss mental health and resilience with their staff, with a range of support services available.
Sir Philip Campbell, editor-in-chief of Springer Nature, signed the pledge on behalf of the company. He commented: “If the 20th century was the century that successfully tackled infectious disease, the 21st century will hopefully be known as the century that tackles chronic disease. And no chronic disease takes as big a toll on society as brain diseases and mental illness. I’m delighted that Springer Nature has chosen to take this step and make a public commitment which recognises the importance of mental wellbeing and I hope that all our colleagues feel better able to talk about their own mental health and seek help if and when it is needed.”
Chief publishing officer Steven Inchcoombe added: “Springer Nature is a people business – our company values reflect this. Our aim is to create a supportive and stimulating environment where everyone can thrive. Research shows that mental health issues significantly compromise and too often have a silent impact on us all. As this campaign says, it is time to change. In the UK today we are pledging to apply the time to change seven key principles via a simple strategy to get us all talking about mental health and bring it out of the shadows.”
From Time to Change, interim director Jo Loughran said: “Too many people with mental health problems are made to feel isolated, ashamed and worthless, but with the right support, those of us with mental health problems can recover and have equal opportunities in all areas of life. Everyone’s attitude makes a difference and it’s fantastic to see organisations like Springer Nature taking the lead.”