The Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC) has launched an innovative series of online Q&A sessions dedicated to mental health.
- The series, in collaboration with Altruist Enterprises, features mental health experts offering insights and guidance.
- Jason Berry introduced the series, highlighting the importance of mental health in the mortgage sector.
- Survey findings reveal a significant portion of industry professionals are overworked and dissatisfied.
- Participants can engage live, sharing experiences and seeking advice during these interactive webinars.
The Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC) has initiated a forward-thinking series of Q&A webinars focused on mental health, aiming to address critical issues faced by professionals within the mortgage sector. This series, launched in collaboration with Altruist Enterprises, features dialogues with mental health experts, including a notable session with Katie Buckingham, founder of Altruist Enterprises.
Altruist Enterprises is recognised for its commitment to promoting mental wellbeing through comprehensive training and coaching. Within the first webinar, Jason Berry, co-founder of MIMHC and group sales director at Crystal Specialist Finance, stressed the necessity of prioritising mental health in addition to other business objectives.
As part of the initiative, Buckingham advocated for mortgage companies to balance employee well-being with their operational goals, offering practical tips for managers to identify and support colleagues grappling with mental health challenges. This proactive approach is crucial, she noted, because many managers may hesitate to broach mental health topics, fearing they lack the necessary skills to effectively engage in such discussions.
Berry, reflecting on the venture, emphasised the importance of these conversations, underlining how they provide ‘expert insight into the most appropriate way for mortgage companies to spot warning signs linked to deteriorating mental health.’ He acknowledged the harsh realities highlighted in the MIMHC’s 2024 survey, which showed that a substantial 62% of professionals routinely work over 45 hours a week, with 13% exceeding 65 hours. More than half reported feelings of moderate happiness at best, with many experiencing disillusionment over their roles.
These Q&A webinars are designed to be highly interactive, recorded live to encourage active participation from attendees. This format allows participants not only to learn but also to share their personal experiences and pose questions to the experts, fostering a community of support and openness regarding mental health challenges within the sector. Buckingham reiterated the importance of open dialogue: ‘Simply being there to support and listen can make all the difference.’
The MIMHC’s Q&A webinars provide a crucial platform for addressing mental health challenges faced by mortgage professionals, promoting a culture of support and awareness.
