To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, our Mental Health First Aiders have been speaking about the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
International Marketing Executive Katy Furlong, Design Engineer Jack Wilson and Leading Operative Craig Senior completed a two-day online course where they learnt vital key skills around how to spot signs of mental health issues, how to manage employees’ concerns and stresses and how to advise them on next steps on how to deal with any issues.
Katy said: “I used to think of mental health in relation to an illness or in line with diagnosed conditions, when in fact it is a state of wellbeing and alongside physical health, mental health does in fact define our ‘health’.
“Mental health has such a huge effect on an individual’s wellbeing. It can contribute to an individual’s concentration levels, diet and exercise, all of which will change an individual’s happiness levels.
“These factors will undoubtedly be affected by the workplace, resulting in an individual potentially being unable to focus on tasks, communicate effectively or be in a physically healthy state to complete their job.”
Karen Grace, HR Manager, said: “We are committed to maintaining a good level of awareness amongst all our colleagues regarding the importance of looking after our own and each other’s wellbeing both inside and outside of the workplace.
“Training has been a big part of this commitment and building a team of qualified Mental Health First Aiders has been important for our business ensuring that all our colleagues can be signposted to the best possible help when needed.
“This facilitates an open culture in which talking about our mental health is not just accepted but is actively encouraged. All our colleagues can build their own unique Wellness Action Plan which can really help individuals to feel a sense of ownership over their own wellbeing whilst feeling supported to share this with their line manager and colleagues should they wish to.”
Holly Jenkins, Director at Jiraffe, said: “At Jiraffe and Jenx, we are committed to ensuring our employees maintain positive wellbeing. This has been even more important during the last two years whilst people have been working from home.
“Mental Health First Aiders are not only there to support those who may be showing signs of low mental health, but to also support individuals who may have a diagnosis of a mental illness by offering confidential support.
“I’m proud to say that all managers have received ‘Mental Health Aware’ training to support their individual teams, and that we’ve branched out our range of internal communications from newsletter updates, wellbeing emails, a wellbeing workshop, and the support of line managers, to ensure we’re present and open when someone is in need.”
For more information about understanding and looking after your mental health, visit https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk.
