A NEW partnership between a Dudley skills organisation and a leading heath charity has won premier league support.

The Kaleidoscope Plus Group and training provider Intraining, based in King Street, have launched a new initiative warning businesses of the cost of neglecting the mental health of their workforce.

The message was launched in a document, which the charity has dubbed their Whitepaper, today,  World Mental Health day, with the backing of West Bromwich Albion football club.

According to Kaleioscope, as many as one-in-four British citizens suffer a mental health problem each year and almost half long-term absences from work are due to mental ill health, which is estimated to cost the UK economy up to £100bn.

Jon Howland, Intraining employment related services director, said: “It is a concern that only 27 per cent of working age people with mental health issues are in work when so many are both willing and able to work with the right help.”

Monica Shafaq, chief executive of The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, added: “Businesses are under increased pressure to support the wellbeing of their workforces. We hope that in future the mental health of employees will be taken as seriously as their physical health; the two are interlinked and must both be taken into account when talking about wellbeing.”

The Baggies have thrown their support behind the Whitepaper and the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

WBA sports psychologist, Tom Bates, said: “Developing positive mental health and wellbeing is the cornerstone of high performance, not just in sport but in life.

“Initiatives like this, led by our official charity partner The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, act to strengthen the development and raise awareness of a vital component of support both in sport and our society.

“It will hopefully have a positive influence on the lives of many in the UK.”