It's Mental Health Awareness Week, and there's never been a more important time to prioritise our wellbeing. That's why we've caught up with Katy Beadle, Learning & Development Manager, who is championing mental wellbeing throughout our business.
As you are delivering mental health training in the workplace, what benefits have you seen from this?
We’ve been delivering Mental Health Champion training for a couple of years now and have just started delivering this training virtually so we can reach more colleagues (as travel is restricted at the moment). We have seen great benefits in this as we are promoting and educating those on mental health, how to spot the signs someone might be struggling, where people can signpost those for help and support and also removing the stigma surrounding mental health. We’ve seen some wonderful, touching stories so far of how colleagues have reached out and supported each other and we hope this will continue.
Why is mental health awareness so important in the workplace?
The average person will spend one third of their lives working, it’s where we spend most of our time, where we get our income and where we communicate with others. Therefore it’s a no brainer as to why we would want to promote positive mental health within the workplace. There is also evidence that in workplaces with high levels of mental wellbeing, their employees are more productive. Therefore addressing poor mental health in the workplace can lead to a more productive, and of course, happier workforce.
This year, the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is Nature. How can we incorporate more nature into our working day?
Sometimes it is difficult to try and get out into the outdoors when we are working, especially for those based in offices. For me some top tips would be:
If you can cycle or walk to work then go for it! It extends the time you spend outdoors and makes a more scenic and active commute!
If you are organising a meeting, consider a meeting space outside the office, in a nearby park or outdoor seating.
Finally, have you considered plants? House plants are all the rage at the moment, they also can brighten up a dull office and some varieties even boast to clean and purify the air.
How can colleagues at Cranswick get support with their mental wellbeing?
We’ve created a workspace where all of our colleagues feel they can get help and support if they need it. We have recently launched our ‘Feed Your Wellbeing Initiative’ as we’ve committed to improving the health, wellbeing and overall happiness of our employees to allow them to achieve their full potential and thrive. Within this initiative, Mental Health is one of the 4 key pillars which Cranswick are focusing on to support our teams. As part of this, we have ensured all of our sites have trained Mental Health First Aiders on-site, alongside access to Occupational Health. We also work very closely with Grocery Aid, a charity specifically for those who work in the food industry, they can assist in the form of emotional, financial and practical support.
Have you got some workplace tips to help us take care of ourselves?
Be open and honest about your mental health in the workplace. Mental health is just like physical health, we all have it therefore it’s so important to take care of ourselves. If a colleague came into work with a bandaged arm or a limp we would ask them about it and show support, therefore try to treat mental health the same way. For me, being open and honest with my Line Manager and team about my mental health helps me on those days when I am not feeling my best.
Make sure you get your ‘work-life balance right’. During the pandemic we have seen many teams and individuals work much longer hours than they should, as there isn’t anything going on outside of work! Make sure you are getting the balance right and spending the time you need to recover and relax to avoid burnout. A top tip from me is to make sure you ‘leave work at work’. With technology we can communicate at any time eliminating that boundary between work and home, therefore making a conscious decision to separate the two can really help those boundaries for a better work-life balance.
For more tips on how to connect with nature, click here.