Thursday 10 October marks World Mental Health Day, a global initiative by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness and mobilise efforts in support of mental health.
Much like Mental Health Awareness Week in May, we’re proud to see more of our clients proactively supporting this day, with dedicated events and campaigns in their offices.
To showcase what some of our corporate wellbeing clients are doing for World Mental Health Day and to inspire those who have yet to make any plans, here are our recommendations for marking World Mental Health Day at your workplace.
Support the ‘Tea & Talk’ campaign with your colleagues.
Give your morning tea round a talkative twist, by taking a proper break to chat with your colleagues. Thanks to technology replacing human interaction, heavier workloads and more working from home, workplace loneliness is on the rise.
A 2014 survey by Relate revealed that 42 per cent of us don’t have a single friend at the office – pretty sobering, considering that British people work some of the longest hours in Europe.
Put the kettle on and find out more about the Tea & Talk campaign here:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/get-involved/tea-and-talk
Wise up on Workplace Mental Health
1 in 4 people will experience mental illness which reaches diagnosis criteria in any year. For those who take time off work, 90% will admit to lying about the reason they are sign-off because they worry about the reaction from their employers.
Stats like these make it clear we need far more interactive and engaging conversations around mental health at work. Stretching the City’s Mental Health workshops aim to raise awareness, cultivate conversations and empower employees to tools and advice to improve their mental wellbeing…. and seek support when it’s needed.
Find out more about our Mental Health at Work workshops here.
https://stretchingthecity.com/corporate-wellbeing/mental-health-at-work/
Eat Good Mood Food
The food we eat can have a profound effect on our mental wellbeing. Did you know 90% of your serotonin is created in the digestive tract? And your brain and gut are in constant communication via the vagus nerve? It’s fascinating stuff and no surprise that the gut is often considered the ‘second brain.
Our resident nutritionist who delivers our ‘Good Mood Food: Nutrition for Mental Health’ workshop recommends increasing your intake of foods rich in Omega 3s (think oily fish, avocados, nuts and seeds), fruits, vegetables and wholegrains, and probiotics such as kefir and live yoghurt for a diet rich in mood-boosting properties.
Even better if you can incorporate these ingredients in to a communal staff lunch.
Get Moving en Masse
We all know that exercise increases our endorphins and improves our mood and exercising together with friends or colleagues is even better, adding a social aspect and some motivating accountability buddies to make sure it happens! Whether it’s an after-work run, office yoga class or a high energy HIIT session in the boardroom, exercise is the ultimate tool to keep your mental and physical wellbeing in shape.
Seek Support
Below are a few of our recommended resources for seeking further support, or some professional advice if you’re worried about someone else.
MIND INFOLINE: 0300 123 3393
THE SAMARITANS: 116 123 (freephone 24/7)
NHS Health Advice: 111
RETHINK ADVICE : 0300 5000 927
We’d love to what your workplace is up to for World Mental Health Day. Send us a tweet or tag us on instagram and we’ll share with our followers.
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