Aldi partners with Mental Health UK to boost support for staff

• Experts from the mental health charity will offer advice and guidance to Aldi staff and their families

• Aldi said the support would complement its existing ‘Wellness Programme’

Aldi has struck a two-year partnership with Mental Health UK which it says will enhance support for its 33,000 UK staff members.

It will see a range of guides and “practical tools” launched to help staff and their families take care of their mental health, including developing the confidence to talk about it, Aldi said.

Experts from the mental health charity will offer advice and guidance.

Aldi said it would complement its ‘Wellness Programme’, which includes access to counselling through an online platform and a confidential helpline delivered by the charity Retailtrust.

“It has never been more important to protect our mental health and support others as we navigate these uncertain times,” said Aldi HR director Sophie Smith.

“Mental health is important for everyone, but with one in four of us experiencing a mental health problem, we know that many of our colleagues are likely to be impacted in some way.

“Our partnership will help us to do even more to tackle the stigma that still exists with mental health, and to bring even more support and guidance to our amazing colleagues across our stores, distribution network and head offices.”

Mental Health UK CEO Brian Dow said: “It’s easy to forget that many retail staff are on their own version of the frontline, and without them right now performing their own heroics many of us would be facing a far more difficult time in what are already unprecedented circumstances. So we are absolutely thrilled to be playing our part in partnering with Aldi, working together over the coming two years to support colleagues’ mental health when they need it most.”