November 2019

Ben has launched a critical response service with a view to support employers and their employees during times of crisis. This specialist service supports employees who have recently experienced: Death of a colleague or customer Serious injury to a member of staff or customer Physical or psychological threat (life threatening risk or situations of extreme violence) Incidents where the circumstances are so unusual or the sights and sounds so distressing, that individuals need support to cope with the trauma experienced Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director, said: “At Ben, we understand that, when a traumatic incident occurs, it’s essential to deal with the situation promptly and efficiently. Employers need to gauge the reaction of their employees and assess the impact of the incident on their wellbeing. That’s where we come in – we’re here to support employers and their employees every step of the way. “Since 2017, our Ben4Business partners have approached us for wellbeing support during a crisis and we want to ensure we continue to meet this need. When we first provided this service, it was mainly offered directly to individuals, but employers are now also supported and can benefit from our expertise. We have since developed this service by working with our Ben4Business partners and we have developed this service around their needs and supporting their people. “A stark reality is that we have mostly supported people after a colleague has taken their own life. The industry has a high proportion of male employees and men are around three times more likely to commit suicide than women. We have a responsibility to look after our own – our automotive industry people. We encourage all automotive employers to come forward and work with us to support their people in times of need.” Last year, Ben’s Critical response service supported over 140 automotive industry employees in response to a critical incident. As part of the service, Ben provides: Employer guidance, support and reassurance from a single point of contact Briefings providing awareness on emotional responses Assessing the wellbeing of individuals wh have been affected, through 1:1 engagement meetings Referral pathway for ongoing support (such as counselling) for individuals when needed Specialist information and self-help resources for employers and employees Ben launches critical response service To seek support with a critical incident, call Ben’s helpline on 08081 311 333. To find out more about the service visit: ben.org.uk

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