Free health advice is only a phone call away this winter
Written by Natalie Tuesday, 17 January 2012 16:15
The return to work after the festive break is often very challenging for staff. A variety of factors, including Christmas debt, the cold weather, or the failure of New Year's resolutions, combine to make this the toughest time of year to get up and go to work. In fact, the third Monday of January has been designated as the most depressing day of the year for these very reasons. This January, Blue Monday falls on 16th January. Amidst an even bleaker winter of ongoing economic hardship and unusually grim weather conditions, Blue Monday this year may feel particularly difficult to face and many will experience occupational, physical or mental health issues as a result.But help is at hand for employers, employees and GPs who are seeking advice on how to help their staff or patients to beat the January blues. The Health at Work Advice Line Wales is a free and confidential service that provides small business managers and GPs in Wales with the expert advice they need to help and support staff and patients experiencing health issues in the workplace.
The Health at Work Advice Line Wales is open between 9 – 5 on weekdays. After hours, messages can be left and an adviser will call back the next working day. Qualified advisers are on hand to offer advice on occupational health monitoring, screening and surveillance, as well as lifestyle and well-being issues, absence management and rehabilitation.
The Health at Work Advice Line is one of the services that is included in the Welsh Government's workplace health programme 'Healthy Working Wales'. The aim of Health Working Wales is to improve health at work; prevent people being made ill at work; retain or rehabilitate those made ill at work; and prevent the link between work related ill health and economic inactivity. Information on the advice line and other related services is available at www.healthyworkingwales.com
