Mental Health Support at DWP

As an employer, DWP understands now more than ever the importance of everyone having the right environment, support and resources to look after their mental health. That’s why we offer our employees a range of resources including:

• PAM Assist offer a listening ear and immediate support. The service is free and confidential and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• A network of DWP Mental Health First Aiders who offer immediate initial support and signposting, giving encouragement to reach out for that bit of extra help that could make all the difference in these challenging times.
• A Wellbeing team who can connect people to one of our networks of Buddies for a wellbeing check-in.   
• Employees have access to DWP’s Wellbeing pages, which includes upcoming wellbeing broadcasts covering topics that are important to our people; from Anxiety and Burnout to self-care. 
• The HASSRA community, a sports and leisure association for current and former DWP employees. Members can be part of national and regional clubs and with 350 local clubs there’s always something going on where you work.
• The Civil Service Sports Council is a similar association to HASSRA, but for all civil servants, encouraging members to explore new ways to be active while maintaining and developing their physical and mental health.

In response to reported feelings of loneliness and/or isolation, DWP have developed and implemented a ‘Buddy Network’ to connect colleagues right across the department.  The scheme was put in place at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic but, such was its success, that it is to continue.  The scheme aims to offer help, advice, signposting, or maybe just a listening ear to those who may feel lonely, isolated, or overwhelmed and in need of a little camaraderie.