CISI is tackling the stigma around mental health issues in finance with new portal

The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), has launched a new mental health support portal, to remove the stigma of mental health issues in financial services.

The launch comes after CISI asked its members about mental health issues and found that only 46% would feel the comfortable speaking with their managers about these problems,

The new initiative comes as part of CISI’s push to raise awareness around World Mental Health Day. The portal offers information, resources and signposts to helpful organisations. The portal serves up practical articles, activities, resources and powerful stories to empower healthier headspaces in the financials services.

Simon Culhane, CEO at CISI, said, “According to MHFA England, mental ill health is responsible for 72 million working days lost and costs £34.9bn each year, the total cost of mental ill health in England is estimated at [between £1bn and £5bn] per year and 75% of mental illness, excluding dementia, starts before aged 18. These shocking statistics speak for themselves and our 2018 inaugural survey into the mental health of our members demonstrated that work stress can be a key contributor to ill mental health, which can be largely controlled by both the leadership and culture within a firm.

“More firms in the financial services sector are showing real leadership for both their staff and the talent pipeline. Examples include Lloyds Banking Group Optimal Leadership Resilience Programme rolled out for 200 senior leaders and 2,000 managers and their Optimal You programme teaching 70,000 people the skills, tools and strategies, based on science, to minimise sickness and presenteeism.

“In addition, Goldman Sachs and MIND have recently launched a mental health programme to provide a £1.5m partnership for mental health support for universities.

“It is our aim with our mental health portal to support the conversation around mental health for those in the financial services profession, to end the stigma of speaking on these issues and provide a platform to support the important, brave and moving stories from individuals who have been affected by ill mental health in our sector.“

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