NICEIC, a certification body for the electrical industry, has partnered with the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) to launch The Tools to Talk, a dedicated mental health and wellbeing support toolkit to support NICEIC-certified businesses and their teams with issues relating to mental health.
Launched at NICEIC’s in-person CPD event, TechLive, The Tools to Talk includes ongoing digital support for NICEIC-certified businesses through a quarterly e-newsletter, interactive mental health-focused episodes of The Wire webinar series, resources to help teams start conversations, and signposting to professional support services.
To further support the charity’s work, NICEIC has donated £10,000 to help the EIC continue to provide support across the electrical sector, including counselling, wellbeing resources, financial assistance, employment support, and family support. The donation reflects NICEIC’s ongoing commitment to the vital work that the EIC does improving mental health outcomes for those working in the sector and ensuring that support is available when it’s needed most.
Research from YouGov shows 62% of tradespeople think that, as a society, mental health and mental health challenges are discussed too little, making them 29% more likely to feel this way more than the general population.
The Tools to Talk is designed to help electricians to express themselves on matters relating to mental health, start positive conversations with colleagues, and provide practical advice and experience they can use to improve the mental health of their colleagues.
Commenting on the partnership, Danny Mouskovias, Learning and Wellbeing Manager at NICEIC, says, “Tradespeople across the UK play a crucial role in building and maintaining our society. Their work is safety-critical, often involves long hours, and comes with a lot of pressure – yet stigma around mental health persists. Too often, issues go undiscussed until someone reaches crisis point.
“We must support our colleagues in taking the first step – having that conversation. The Tools to Talk provides the guidance and confidence teams need to support themselves and each other with compassion. Together with the Electrical Industries Charity, we’re committed to ensuring that everyone – from sole traders to businesses with large teams – has access to the support they need.”
Jess Valima, Managing Director of the Electrical Industries Charity, adds, “We see the impact of mental health issues in the sector every day, which is why we’re proud to partner with NICEIC on The Tools to Talk. It’s vital that people recognise the signs early and know where to turn for help.
“The Electrical Industries Charity offers a range of free and confidential support services for those working in the electrical and energy sectors.”
If you need support or advice, reach out to the Electrical Industries Charity via support@electricalcharity.org, the online form, or by calling 0800 652 1618 (operating hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
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