A COUNCILLOR who passionately believes in the importance of mental health support in the workplace is continuing to push for an awareness day.

Cllr David Summers, an It's Our County county councillor, was left disappointed when his suggestion for a mental health day called Let's Listen Herefordshire was refused by Conservative cabinet member, Patricia Morgan and council officers.

A notice of motion for the day was put forward in July and was supported by full council, but at a meeting in September Cllr Morgan said the idea had been refused.

Cllr Marcelle Lloyd-Hayes, an It's Our County councillor, said: "It received unanimous support across the parties in the council. Normally a notice of motion will go to cabinet, they discuss it and then they make a decision. If you disagree with the decision you can get three people from two different parties to call in the decision.

"By making the decision in this way, it has taken away the opportunity to have it debated."

Cllr Morgan told the meeting there were better ways to achieve the desired objectives and to support current mental health promotion.

But Cllr Summers said the awareness day was not going to cost the council anything and had support from voluntary groups and 2gether NHS Foundation Trust.

He said: "I put two packages together. The short term goal was businesses and the long term goal was mental health in schools." Cllr Summers said he planned to approach county businesses to support the day and also to make sure people in the workplace knew where to get help if they were suffering from mental health problems.

He added: "I want to make people aware that mental health not only affects the mind, it affects anything to do with the body."

At last month's full council meeting Cllr Lloyd-Hayes said Cllr Morgan did not consider the motion because it did not come from a Conservative councillor.

But Cllr Morgan said: "This motion has been considered in great detail with a considerable amount of officer time and a considerable amount of my time. I find your suggestion rude and unpleasant."

It was World Mental Health day on Monday. Herefordshire Council said that during the next six months it will be working with partners to promote ways in which residents can promote their mental health.

The campaign will also seek to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and encourage people to ‘Take 10’, that’s just 10 minutes to have a meaningful conversation with a colleague, friend, neighbour or family member about their mental health.