business advertorial matters
june/july April/May February/March december/january 2019 2021business business 2021 2018 business edge business edge edge edge
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure Mental health and wellbeing at work continues to be one of the most challenging issues that employers face. The financial cost to organisations of poor mental health is estimated to be £42bn a year. We know that the more conversations we have, the more myths we can bust and barriers we can break down, helping to end the isolation, shame and worthlessness that too many of us with mental health problems are made to feel. Open conversations about mental health are more important than ever. We need your help to start the conversation – together we can end mental health stigma. In order to help people, Stratus Coaching regularly holds free webinars on the topic of mental health and wellbeing which are open to all to help them gain a better understanding and awareness of the subject. (Contact Anna for details or search on Eventbrite).
Why should organisations care? Now more than ever, employers need to ensure they promote healthy workplaces where people feel comfortable speaking to someone if they are struggling. According to the Health and Safety at Work Act, employers “must protect the health, safety and welfare at work of employees” which includes mental health. Convictions and prosecutions over a lack of mental health support have already been seen across Europe. It is also the right thing to do to proactively look after people’s wellbeing so that they can perform at their best, but not at the expense of their health.
What can you do to help? Mental Health Policy - is this accessible to staff and managers? Does it clearly signpost people to internal and external resources available? Internal resources - inc. mental health first aiders, Occ Health, EAP. Mental Health First Aiders - trained to have conversations with people. Training - are leaders aware of their responsibilities and able to confidently have conversations about wellbeing? Culture of Openness - how often are people asked how they are feeling, not just an update on what they are doing? Regular breaks - encourage employees to take regular breaks during the day to restore their mental energies. Email policy - are people expected to be on call 24/7? Sports people value their rest days as much as training days, we need to recharge our minds too. Clear objectives & guidance - when people know what’s expected of them, they can better perform to their full potential and use constructive feedback for future success. Coaching/mentoring - reflecting on progress and sharing insights pays huge dividends.
image © Pete Jones Photography
Anna Golawski provides free webinars on the topic of mental health, stress and resilience. Please contact anna@ stratuscoaching.co.uk for future dates or information on in-house training. She is a Mental Health First Aid instructor providing the MHFA 2-day and 1-day course, and refresher training sessions with an excellent track record: “Anna was a brilliant trainer who included everyone in the course and was very engaging.” “An absolutely amazing course - I would advocate for as many people as possible to undertake this course.” “Anna was a really amazing course leader” “Anna was amazing! I learned so much not only from the theory that she taught but also the kind and sensitive way in which she delivered the course and drew upon her own personal experiences. I feel much more confident handling mental health issues in the workplace now. Thank you again.” “Anna was an amazing instructor. So clear and well presented courses. and just an all round lovely person. Thanks to Anna this will stay with me for life.” 07799 334594 www.stratuscoaching.com
Prevention is better than that cure. The sooner people can talk about any struggles they are experiencing, the quicker they will bounce back.
AS A CHAMBER MEMBER YOU’RE WELL CONNECTED
11
