How You Can Support Your Workforce
Protecting and improving employee health and wellbeing is essential for thriving communities and successful businesses. With many adults spending a significant part of their lives at work, the workplace is a vital setting for supporting better health. Evidence shows that healthier employees lead to reduced absence, improved retention and greater productivity.
Below is a selection of practical, evidence‑based toolkits developed by Business in the Community in partnership with Public Health England (PHE). The resources bring together best practice and freely available guidance to help employers take a whole‑person, whole‑organisation approach to mental and physical wellbeing, with mental health running throughout.
Mental Health in the Workplace
Business in the Community (BITC) partnered with Public Health England to produce a toolkit to help every organisation support the mental health and wellbeing of its employees.
It will help employers take positive actions to build a culture that champions good mental health and provides a greater understanding of how to help those who need more support
Open the Toolkit
Suicide Prevention
This Suicide Prevention Toolkit, helps senior leaders, line managers, HR and occupational health professionals identify staff members who may have suicidal feelings and gives practical advice on how to deal with a crisis situation. It was produced in partnership with Public Health England and supported by Samaritans. This toolkit will help embed suicide prevention strategies in your organisation’s health and wellbeing policies, guide your approach to supporting those at risk and act as a resource to provide support across your workforce.
Open the Toolkit
Crisis Management In The Event Of A Suicide
Suicide prevention should be an integral part of a positive and proactive approach to mental health at work. But no mental health policy can ever eliminate the risk of suicide. So it is of paramount importance to incorporate a suicide postvention protocol into a company’s crisis management strategy.
This Suicide Postvention Toolkit is designed to support employers in their response to the suicide of an employee, at work or outside the workplace. It was produced in partnership with Public Health England and supported by Samaritans.
Open the Toolkit
Domestic Abuse
Employers have a duty of care and a legal responsibility to provide a safe and effective work environment.
For those experiencing abuse, the workplace often offers a safe space and a respite away from their abuser. Colleagues and managers can often be the only other people outside the home that survivors talk to each day and are therefore uniquely placed to help spot signs of abuse.
Open the Toolkit
Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco
This toolkit includes simple, practical steps you can follow to embed a positive and open culture. It will help you pick out the best free resources that will be most useful to you and your team, and help you develop an approach that fits the needs of your staff and organisation.
Open the Toolkit
Menopause in the Workplace
Developed by Business in the Community (BITC) in collaboration with The Open University and The University of Bristol, this guide helps employers normalise menopause at work and take meaningful, practical action.
Open the ToolkitMental Health and Wellbeing Support Across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast
- TogetherAll is a safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing. 24/7 access.
- Lancashire Mind – a charity which are passionate about making a difference to the mental health of people living and working in Lancashire.
- Blackpool Supporting Minds – offers brief psychological treatment for depression and anxiety disorders.
- Fylde and Wyre Mindsmatter – A well-being service offering a range of free psychological therapies.
- Orange Button Scheme – People who are having thoughts of suicide, or who are worried about a friend or family member, can now push the button when they see someone wearing a distinctive orange badge, and ask them for information and support.
- Suicide Prevention Training – Free training for Lancashire residents. Learners who can show the required awareness of Suicide First Aid will receive a certificate and can apply to be Orange Button holders.
- The Mental Health Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 0800 953 0110. It is staffed by trained mental health professionals who are able to provide assessment and referrals to appropriate services. Ring it if you need to access services or for advice about someone who needs treatment/support.
- Wellbeing Helpline & Texting Service, staffed by volunteers and those with lived experience, that offers emotional support. Ring if you want to chat about your mental health or suffering from loneliness. It can be contacted on 0800 915 4640 or by texting ‘Hello’ to 07860 022846
For other Lancashire based Mental Health support resources please visit: https://www.healthierlsc.co.uk/mentalhealth for a regularly updated list
National Organisations
- Samaritans – Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They’re available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – call 116 123.
- Hub of Hope – Wherever you are across the UK, enter your postcode to find support local to your location. Available to download as an App
- Young Minds UK is a charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health, for young people, or those who care for or work with young adults
- Mental Health Foundation is a charity to help people understand, protect and sustain their mental health
Now is the time for every organisation to support their workforce with mental health and wellbeing.
Join the networkJoin us at one of our next events
September's Fylde Coast RBN Network Meeting
18 September 2026
With almost 1 in 8 young people now NEET across the UK, and higher concentrations in coastal towns like Blackpool, this is a growing challenge with real implications for our local economy and communities. Recent national reporting has even warned of a potential “lost generation” if action isn’t taken.
Our keynote speaker for this event will be Alun Francis OBE, Chief Executive of Blackpool and The Fylde College and Chair of the Social Mobility Commission.
Book now