As part of our continuing focus on mental health and wellbeing, we have been supporting the Mental Health Foundation with Mental Health Awareness Week 2023.
Every day of the week we had a something different happening to raise the profile of such an important topic.
We also know that the focus on mental health and wellbeing should mean more than what we do in a week, which is why we’ve trained the fabulous Lorraine Munn and Nic Elliott as Mental Health First Aiders.
Here’s what we did:
Monday
On Monday, our Mental Health First Aiders, Lorraine Munn & Nic Elliott recorded an intro video which was shared with colleagues on our intranet, sharing details of the theme of the week and what we had planned.
The theme for this year’s Mental Health Foundation initiative is “Anxiety”. Why anxiety is the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 | Mental Health Foundation
What can we do to cope with feelings of anxiety? | Mental Health Foundation
Tuesday
A key part of maintaining good mental health is self-care and being kind to ourselves. That might involve resting, better sleep, exercise, taking time to enjoy a hobby, or allowing ourselves a treat every now and again!
So we treated our colleagues to a selection of donuts and fruit. It was a great opportunity to grab a drink and take the time to chat with colleagues.
Wednesday
Our team focused on how exercise and fresh air can help alleviate stress and organised a lunchtime wellbeing walk around the wonderful Park Estate.
Walking provides the best of both worlds. It offers the physical benefit of exercise while boosting your emotional wellbeing and ease symptoms related to anxiety.
Thursday
We joined in with the Mental Health Foundation “Wear it Green Day 2023” to raise money to help the Mental Health Foundation.
Friday
To end our week of initiatives, we gave all our colleagues a gift to grow! And we’ll have a prize for the tallest!
This links with one of the Mental Health Foundation tips for coping with feelings of anxiety – the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week this year.
Spend time in nature
“We know that spending time in nature has a positive impact on our mental health. It can help us feel calmer and less stressed. This can be as simple as tending some flowers in a window box or going for a walk in the woods. Any amount of time doing this is good for us, but to really get the benefit, try to spend a significant period of time – maybe an hour or longer – when you can really connect with nature and immerse yourself.”
The Mental Health Foundation: What can we do to cope with feelings of anxiety?
Posted on May 19, 2023
