Time to Change: Purcell signs pledge for mental health

4 February 2019

We have signed an employer pledge with Time to Change, the growing social movement run bycharities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness which supports people to open up tomental health problems. By signing, we are committing to change the way we think and act about mental health in the workplace.

The signing ceremony took place, with our staff pledging their support to Time to Change and adopting an action plan of activity that will help to break the silence that surrounds mental health in the workplace.

As part of ouremployer pledge action plan we have just launched “Purcell Pals”, an initiativeto champion mental health throughout the company. The Pals are a team of 17employees across our studios who are ready to actively listen to colleagues, bereactive to situations and who are prepared to commit quality time to theirrole as a Purcell Pal. They will undertake full training, with ongoing supportprovided.

Almost 1 in 3 people have experienced mental health problems, this particularly prevalent in our industry. At Purcell, we are committed to supporting a change in attitude and understanding towards mental health. We’ve set up a network of champions across our practice, known as the “Purcell Pals”, who support and encourage good mental health and wellbeing within the workplace. This initiative reflects the practice’s core values of team, energy, quality, respect and evolution. It’s something we feel very passionate about.

— Sue Beckwith, Associate and Senior Office Manager, London Studio

We know it can be hard to talk about mental health, which is why we’re supporting employers to open up; to talk and to listen. 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 Purcell taking the lead.

— Jo Loughran, Interim Director of Time to Change

Many leading employers have found that making a strategic commitment to the mental wellbeing of their workforce not only benefits their staff but also their bottom-line, improving productivity and staff retention. With one in six British workers experiencing mental illness it's time for businesses to make a change and start creating more mentally healthy workplaces.

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Time to Change is funded by the Department of Health, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund. Set up to create a positive shift in public attitudes towards mental health problems, Time to Change supports communities, schools and workplaces to open up to mental health problems; to talk and to listen.

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