Challenges that no one could have predicted over the last few months, for employers and employees alike, have highlighted the importance of mental health awareness in the workplace. The uncertainty and concern around our ongoing situation and longer-term outlook have resulted in a mix of emotions for many, and a pressure that some might find unmanageable alone.
As we continue to celebrate and support Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, we spoke to Severn Partnership’s HR Coordinator, Katie Lafferty, on her approach to addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
“As circumstances in life change, it is perfectly normal for your mental health to be impacted and ebb and flow in reaction to the challenges and triumphs you face. However, the recent pandemic has in many ways amplified the strain on workers around the globe and means that now more than ever, businesses and employers need to acknowledge the fundamental duty of care they have for not only the physical, but the mental health and wellbeing of their employees.
With the workplace being where many of us spend much of our time, it is vital that the culture is encouraged to be as open and supportive as possible to allow people to be themselves and discuss any issues they may have. Here at Severn Partnership, we are committed to creating an environment that is supportive of our employee’s wellbeing and providing the resources required to help those who feel they are struggling to improve their ability to cope with adversity.
The latest official data shows that 32.5 million workdays were lost across the UK due to work-related ill health in 2019-2020, with stress, anxiety and depression counting for almost 18 million of these. Unfortunately, a stigma remains around conversations related to these feelings, particularly with colleagues, and talking about mental health can still seem daunting.
We are proud that our open-door policy encourages those who need to talk to do so, whenever and wherever is most comfortable for them. We realise that having numerous points of contact throughout the company equipped to support in these situations is also key, as individuals are then able to identify someone they feel most comfortable with when opening up about their feelings. We have therefore enrolled staff members onto mental health awareness courses and currently have four certified Mental Health First Aiders in the company, with another four completing their training in the coming weeks.
We have also recently introduced an employee engagement survey, designed not only to give team members a chance to provide feedback on work-related concerns, but to be another opportunity for people to reach out anonymously and speak to someone in confidence. Open-ended questions relating to employee wellbeing are included in each survey, which is distributed company-wide every quarter. Personal responses from those trained to advise are then sent to the individual, helping them find ways to recover and stay well, even if the conversation is not face-to-face.
With this year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week being nature, I couldn’t not touch upon the impact this has on our emotional health, particularly after long months spent indoors during the pandemic. Nature has powerful benefits and the daily interaction we have with it, however small, can improve mood and reduce stress. Incorporating nature into your workday is also entirely possible.
As we see out the remainder of the week, I urge people to seek out time in green spaces, no matter the size of the concrete jungle you might find yourself in. Getting active and heading out for a walk, even if only for 10 minutes on your lunch break, will give you a chance to take in your surroundings and has been found to improve feelings of self-esteem. Take some time to benefit from fresh air and listen to nature’s soundtrack if things get a little too busy and support your colleagues by advising them to do the same if you feel they need to.”
For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, or to find more resources on maintaining, improving or supporting mental wellbeing, please take a look at the Mental Health Foundation website.