House of Lords dinner, 21st March 2007

The purpose of this event was for Rethink to team up with leading national and international companies and organisations to discuss mental health problems in the workplace. Rethink want to help employers do the right thing through understanding their needs. Therefore, an advisory group of corporate stakeholders is to be lined up to find out about what support employers call for to maintain a mental health friendly workplace.

The event was addressed by speakers including Anne McGuire MP, Minister for Disabled People and Sophie Jones, Managing Director of Creative Adhesives and a former user of a Rethink employment project.

Anne McGuire presented the Government’s agenda on this issue as being about rebalancing the welfare system from a passive system where people were abandoned to a system where people can realise their ambitions through relationships. She strongly welcomed the work of Rethink and urged employers to take action.

Sophie Jones made a very valid point by sharing her own personal story with delegates. After the dinner Sophie said: “It was a pleasure to speak at such an important event on a subject I am very passionate about. I am living proof that with the right help from organisations like Rethink can help people with mental health problems make the most of their skills and talents.”

Paul Jenkins said: “The event was a great success, bringing together the expertise of both employers and people affected by mental health problems. By working with employers, Rethink hopes to help improve understanding of mental health issues in the workplace. We hope all companies will understand that proper recruitment and retention of staff with mental health conditions is not political correctness but good business sense.”