Reading this on your mobile while sat in front of your PC? You, my friend, are a multi screener! In today’s fast paced society it’s important that you are doing everything you can do to ensure you’re up to speed on wellbeing in the workplace.
So what is mental health?
“A state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community” - World Health Organisation
Handle Recruitment hosted an event at Home House in partnership with JourneyHR and Sheridan’s where we heard from a panel of experts on how to identify the signs of mental illness, avoid the triggers and explore how we can build mental resilience within our organisations. One of those experts was Emma Mamo - Head of Workplace Wellbeing from Mind
Here are our top 5 seeds of wisdom that we took away from the event:
1.Banish the culture of silence:
As an employer take the first step and implement a mental health policy. This will help to make staff feel more comfortable in discussing any worries and in turn you should have a more loyal and committed workforce.
2.Notice the work place triggers:
Mind have listed these as the top ten triggers for burnout:
- Long hours and no breaks
- Unrealistic expectations or deadlines
- High-pressure environments
- Poor working environment
- Unmanageable workloads or lack of control over work
- Negative relationships or poor communication
- Poor managerial support
- Job insecurity or change management
- High-risk roles
- Lone working
Ensure that you are implementing a comprehensive mental health strategy, in which you are actively promoting wellbeing in the workplace. Discuss work-related mental health problems and provide a supportive environment for any employees with mental health problems.
3.Establish where you need to get to as an organisation:
Mind suggest that “Open and supportive workplaces benefit everyone –employees, employers and the bottom line.” Here at Handle we are hot on company culture and although it’s fast paced and hard work, we get in plenty of play in too! Here are some of the things we offer to ensure a good work life balance;
- Annual company trip, linked to company results
- Flexible working
- Peer support
- Promote physical and social activities
- Duvet days
4.Consider working with a mentor
Handle Recruitment's unique HR Mentoring Programme is an exciting collaboration between our clients, facilitated by us. We use our matching expertise to bring mentors and mentees together, in a relationship through which they offer each other developmental guidance opportunities.
5.Know your triggers
This isn’t just about employers if you’re an employee and are feeling overwhelmed try and narrow down the things that are getting on top of you. Mind suggest It’s important that you
- Work sensible hours
- Take your lunch break
- Create clear boundaries between work and home
- Maintain your life outside of work
- Use your commute to wind down from work.
- Communicate if you need help
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need advice and support you can find a Mind in your local area
Infoline 0300 123 3393
Text 8643
Email info@mind.org.uk
Some useful Resources from Mind
How to take stock of mental health in your workplace.
How to promote wellbeing and tackle the causes of work-related mental health problems How to support staff who are experiencing a mental health problem
How to support staff who are experiencing a mental health problem
Check out our Twitter and Instagram for more photos of the event!