Mental Health Awareness Week

Published: 15 May 2023

Mental health is something we should all care about, all year long. But Mental Health Awareness Week provides a great opportunity for us to share some of the progressive practices that some of our previous Best Practice Award winners have put in place to support employees.

An open culture

• Fostering a strong community and personal connection is paramount to a sense of wellbeing, something which is well understood by the management consultancy firm, Slalom. Peer support sessions, buddying and joint tea breaks all create an environment where individuals can talk with one another about their experiences, struggles and challenges.“We recognise that mental health is just as important as physical health. Our people leaders encourage open and honest conversations about mental health and provide resources and support to those who may be struggling. We understand that everyone’s journey is unique, and we are committed to treating every employee with compassion and understanding.”
  
  Director of People Business Partnership, Slalom

Help on-hand

• It’s important to reach every member of your organisation and so representatives who can cascade information and share their own experiences to break down stigma can be very impactful. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield deliberately has Wellbeing Champions on their construction sites in recognition that support needs to be visible and accessible. Similarly, dentsu have trained mental health first aiders called Kind Minds in who are promoted as people within the business that can be approached for support and signposting.

Board-level support

• Having someone at a senior level to support policies around mental health can be very effective in getting results. Follow the example of QBE who have a Wellbeing Champion on the board to ensure policies are supported from the top down.“I try to promote a culture in which people feel safe to speak up, ok to not be ok, and where everyone can find someone within our business to whom they can speak, confidentially, to get support for themselves or their families. Mental health in a work context can be challenging to discuss, I’ve been a huge beneficiary of the support QBE can offer, when we had a family mental health crisis in 2022.  Being in an environment where you can share what you are experiencing, with your manager, peers and team, made a huge difference to the ‘bump in the road’ we faced as a family.”

  Executive Sponsor of Open Mind at QBE

A force for good

• Supporting mental health can take many forms. Facilitating group volunteering can help employees build connection to each other and the wider community. ‘One Day for Change’ is the annual event organised by dentsu to enable their employees to come together to make a positive difference.“The act of conservation brings you closer to your community and makes you more aware of your surroundings. It was fun to be out in the open air for the day (away from video calls!), and also to work with colleagues, many of whom I did not know previously.”

  Employee at dentsu

A network of support

• There is strength in numbers, and so a network can be a powerful way to provide support and connection. The Mental Wellbeing Network at Santander is volunteer-led and has over 2,500 members. The overall purpose is to promote a positive attitude and empower individuals to speak up and take action to improve their wellbeing. Its role is multifaceted, from advocating everyday inclusion through Listening Circles and spotlighting diverse leaders, to providing resources for support and addressing barriers through collaboration with HR.“My family have had two mental health challenges over the past two decades both of which had a knock on effect on my own mental wellbeing. On both occasions my line manager and the wider organisation offered me amazing support. I see my role as co-chair as making sure all colleagues have access to the same level of support whatever their challenge and no matter where they work in the Bank.”

  Co-chair of the Mental Health Wellbeing Network, Santander

Be proactive

• Don’t wait for employees to ask for help, take a more proactive approach and build conversations around mental health into review processes. All staff at the Crown Prosecution Service undergo an annual health check which includes questions around mental health, helping to identify those who may be struggling as well as normalising mental health conversations.

Be flexible

• Being able to manage life’s daily challenges with flexibility can help to safeguard mental health. Tailored flexible solutions ensure that individual needs can be met. Take the example of Mills and Reeve, who have over 250 working patterns in place. A combination of formal and informal flex, such as is in operation at Slalom, can support parents and carers manage the juggle and help reduce stress and worry.“Returning to work has been so easy as everyone is just so understanding and accommodating, I never feel any judgement if I need to move a call out by 10 minutes to do the school run, or our 2 year old decides that she wants to impromptu join my Zoom call!”

  Employee at Slalom

Celebrate wellbeing

• Shining a light on mental health can help individuals feel accepted or comfortable to open up. dentsu’s annual Festival of Wellbeing aims to empower, educate and support their employees to take time for the mental health through events such as breathwork, a men’s mental health panel, yoga and art workshops.