Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures his Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.

The Department for Transport (DfT) and its agencies take the mental wellbeing of its staff very seriously. DfT has a variety of policies and programmes designed to help staff that find themselves suffering with poor mental health.

DfT has recently published an easy to access, practical guide for line managers on how they can support mental wellbeing in the workplace. It also includes advice on understanding the early warning signs and how to manage difficult conversations around mental health.

DfT also supports workplace adjustment passports which are a living record of adjustments that a disabled member of staff requires, including staff with mental health problems. These documents are designed to do the following:

A) Ensure that both parties, the individual and the employer, have an accurate record of what has been agreed

B) Minimise the need to re-negotiate workplace adjustments every time the employee changes jobs, is re-located or assigned a new manager within the organisation

C) Provide employees and their line managers with the basis for discussions about workplace adjustments at future meetings.

DfT has an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). EAP support is tailored to the department and is provided by expert staff who understand our business. It offers support and signposts individuals to advice on things such as bereavement, depression, and anxiety. It also offers counselling sessions.

DfT has a Mental Health Buddy Network, set up by staff, for staff. It connects people who are suffering from mental health problems with another member of staff who is able to meet with them in complete confidence. The buddies are aware that they are not trained psychiatrists; they do not give advice but provide a listening ear, and signpost to the relevant, professional organisations.

DfT has a dedicated mental health staff network, Time to Change, which is dedicated to changing the department’s culture, and remove the stigma surrounding mental health.