Members of the senior team at Merseyside brand marketing specialist Wild Thang have undertaken a half-day of training to better understand mental health challenges in the workplace. Tony McDonough reports

There is growing awareness of the challenges of mental health in the workplace and now the team at Merseyside brand marketing specialist Wild Thang have taken steps to learn more about the issue.

It is estimated that in the UK every year, mental health issues cost businesses £26bn in sick days, staff turnover and reduced productivity. Not only is tackling the issue the right thing to do, it also makes business sense.

With this in mind, Bootle-based Wild Thang, which is in the midst of a multi-million pound expansion of its business, invited national mental health charity Chasing the Stigma to deliver its Ambassador of Hope Plus training programme to the firm’s senior team.

This half-day workshop focuses on developing skills and putting them into practice. During the session people learn more about having conversations around mental health and also asking for help in terms of their own mental health. It also offers information on coping mechanisms and further support.

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Wild Thang managing director Andrew Dwerryhouse said: “We know over the last few years it has been super tough for our team and their families dealing with all the pandemic challenges, but we also know that everyone will be touched by mental health concerns in their lifetime at some point.

“I have personally been through some very low times and seen first-hand how difficult it can be dealing with these issues both in business and personally. So we decided as a company that there was never a better time to embrace and to try our best to normalise the mental health conversations within Wild Thang.

“It’s great to be able to support a charity that is doing some amazing work in this area but just as importantly to get the in-depth training that would make a positive impact for the long term.

“I have met the founder of the charity Jake Mills and his story is an inspiration, it really gives hope to anyone suffering from mental health issues that there is always light at the end of the tunnel no matter how low someone may be feeling.” 

Andrew, who launched Wild Thang from small beginnings more than 20 years ago, said he was really proud at how his team embraced the training in an open and honest way, talking about their own personal or family challenges. He added: “The Ambassador of Hope training plus we received from Chasing the Stigma was fantastic.

“Big thanks to the trainer who delivered really insightful and in-depth helpful advice that really has given us the tools to be better equipped to support not only our wider team but also family and friends from a mental health and wellbeing perspective. It really is the Wild Thang Way.”