A Suffolk Mind service to help people with mental health issues to gain or retain employment has been extended for a further two years

A Suffolk Mind service to support those with mental health issues to gain or retain their employment will continue to run for a further two years, thanks to funding from the National Lottery.

The independent mental health charity, Suffolk Mind launched Suffolk Work Well (SWW) in March 2019. It was funded to run for two years, however, due to the success and demand for the service, it has now been granted extra funding to continue until 2023.

Since its launch, Suffolk Work Well has supported more than 250 people to gain or retain their employment. The free service provides a supportive back-to-work system, one-to-one support sessions with a dedicated Case Worker and better in-work support through a Personal Wellbeing Plan.

Almost one in three people have experienced mental health problems while in employment and mental ill-health is the leading cause of sickness absence in the UK. (1)

Tony Wooderson, Suffolk Work Well Co-ordinator said: “We are so pleased to have received this funding from the National Lottery to continue running this much needed service in Suffolk. When we first launched the service, it was based in Ipswich and Felixstowe, but now with the help of online technology, we have been able to expand our reach to everyone in Suffolk.

“We know that appropriate work, combined with the right support, is good for people’s mental health. With everything that has happened in the last year, we want to ensure people feel supported in the workplace or whilst they are job hunting”.

To self-refer or for more information click here. You can also be referred through your Jobcentre, your HR Team, your GP, Support Worker, Care Coordinator, Psychiatrist or Mental Health Practitioner via our online referral form.