World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day, observed annually on the 10th October, is an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues and to mobilise efforts to support mental health worldwide.

What could you do in the workplace….

Grab a Cuppa

It is vital that staff understand the factors that affect mental health, and have regular well-being conversations with their managers. Put time aside for a ‘catch up cuppa’ It doesn’t have to be a formal ‘review’ of your employee, a more relaxed and informal setting will make them feel more at ease and be able to speak more freely on how they really are doing.

Power Hour

Set aside 60 minutes for a ‘Power Hour’ activity in your workplace. Whether it’s a lunch and learn, a Big Mental Health Get Together, team building activity or an hour of reflection. Create a space that encourages the team to share and learn and empower and lift one another, make every moment count.

Happy Hour

What would be your ‘Happy Hour’? Give the team all an hour in their day to do what makes them happy, whether thats a later start or an early finish, give everyone 60 minutes to do what makes them smile. It could be exercise, more time with the family, meeting friends. Encourage everyone to take this time for them, and have fun with what everyone got up to on Tuesday when you all get back to the office.

Have Fun & Fundraise

Now this option is ‘double bubble’ as you will get those happy endorphins going, build on your team work, create a supportive space for your team AND you get to raise money and awareness on an important cause. From a walk to eating cake, there are endless ways in which you can all get together to support each other and support an amazing cause.

Mental Health UK have great ideas of how you can do this….

https://mentalhealth-uk.org/get-involved/fundraising/

Get a Promotion

Sorry no money exchanged here, but instead give Mental Health a promotion- Promote it and its importance in the workplace and tackle the stigma. Host a talk or an event for the day that really gives this topic of conversation your time and talk about how to make changes in the company to support every single member of the team (including yourself!) What happens at the top, must come down.

Mental Health First Aid

Support your workplace with expert mental health training and train your workforce in mental first aid training. A great opportunity to come together as a team and learn and be able to support your employees and each other. Courses are available online and face to face.

https://mhfaengland.org/

Lucy- Founder of Be In Your Element