Mental Health, Wellbeing & Why DEI Matters More Than Ever

In this edition of the Diversity Alliance newsletter, we delve into the critical role of diversity, equity, and inclusion despite the growing criticism and budget cuts faced by DEI initiatives. We also share insights, practical tips and personal reflections, as well as tools for supporting wellbeing just in time for Mental Health Awareness Week.

?? In this week's newsletter:

DEI Under Fire. Despite growing criticism and budget cuts, we explore why diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are more crucial than ever.

Workplace Stress. We look into the challenges surrounding employee assistance programs and explore alternative solutions for supporting employee wellbeing.

Mental Health Awareness. As Mental Health Awareness Week approaches, we share tips for prioritising your team's mental health and creating a culture of understanding and resilience.

DE&I Confessions. Introducing our new series, where we invite you to anonymously share your experiences and challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the events industry. Join the conversation!

Pressing Pause. In this personal reflection, I discuss the importance of self-care and taking time to recharge, especially for those in the DEI space.

DE&I Strategies. Discover how implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies can positively impact your event's success. Are you ready to build lasting relationships with your attendees and stakeholders?

"DEI must Die"?

Elon Musk's "DEI must die" quip might just sound like the musings of a privileged man, but HR leaders across the western world are seeing real cuts to their DEI budgets.

In today's challenging climate, unfortunately we are witnessing growing criticism and budget cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.? You might think of course I would be concerned (after all it’s tied to my livelihood), but honestly DEI efforts are not a "woke" trend or a threat to western values (a la Liz Truss ??), but are actually a crucial step towards creating a more just, equitable, and harmonious society. Luckily many of my clients feel the same, but I do wonder how much the current rhetoric is having an impact on the work I do...

Seeing influential figures like Liz Truss promoting divisive rhetoric that pits "conservatives" against "progressives," (the content of her new book) worries me. This harmful "us versus them" mentality undermines the very foundation DEI work.

Research and data have consistently proven that embracing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences cultivates greater creativity and innovation in our workplaces and society as a whole. By weaving DEI into other HR strategies, we can help safeguard these essential initiatives.

In a recent episode of the HR Most Influential podcast, Woosh Raza, the People, Culture and Inclusion Director for the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), addresses the growing criticism and budget cuts faced by diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

I highly recommend tuning in to this episode to learn more about how we can continue fighting for a more inclusive and equitable future, despite the challenges faced.

In the podcast, they explore:?

• Why DEI is facing criticism
• How to weave DEI into other HR strategies

Listen now on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or Google Podcasts

?? Managing Workplace Stress???

Managing workplace stress has long been an issue for employers. But the recent scandal involving Health Assured, one of the UK's largest providers of employee assistance programs (EAP’s), highlights the importance of managing and vetting the companies you choose to work with to provide this important resource.

Incase you're not aware, Health Assured has faced allegations of mishandling calls, with a focus on profits over the quality of care provided which has raised concerns about the overall effectiveness of these programs in supporting employee wellbeing.?

EAP's are usually seen as the cheapest and most hassle free service for this type of resource. But what are the benefits and do they actually work?

Let's take a look:

Pros:

• EAP's can significantly reduce absenteeism and increase employee engagement
• They address work-life balance issues (which is a major reason for employee turnover)
• A well designed EAP can improve employee wellbeing and productivity

Cons:

• EAP's can be expensive to implement and maintain
• The one-size-fits-all approach may not cater to the diverse needs of all employees
• Research and employee input are necessary to ensure the program's effectiveness and ROI

As a result of some of the cons, companies are exploring alternative solutions to help their employees manage stress and maintain good mental health. Flexible work arrangements, such as freelance work and unlimited holiday policies, can provide employees with greater control over their work-life balance.?

As individuals, we also need to proactively identify our personal stress triggers and mitigate them. I personally find engaging in activities like yoga, meditation, journaling and gratitude practice helps me manage stress / wellbeing - others will have other methods of course.

But essentially, by providing access to quality resources, encouraging open communication, and leading by example, employers can help their teams navigate the challenges of workplace stress to help build a more resilient, productive workforce.

Do you have an EAP? Have they been a positive or negative influence? I would love to hear your thoughts.

As we approach Mental Health Awareness Week, it's a great time for professionals to look at how they prioritise their own wellbeing and that of their teams.

By engaging our team's in supportive activities, providing accessible resources, and organising education and awareness campaigns, we can work towards creating a workplace culture that promotes mental health and reduces the stigma that can be attached to experiencing MH challenges.

How do you address MH support in the workplace?

For example you could consider planning activities that encourage open conversations about mental health, such as group discussions, panel talks, or Q&A sessions. These type of events allow employees to share their experiences, ask questions, and learn from each other in a safe and supportive environment.

It's also super important to make sure your team is aware of available mental health resources, including Employee Assistance Programs (EAP's), counselling services, helplines, and other online platforms. Regularly communicate about these resources and make them easily accessible to all employees.

Lastly, work with professionals who are dedicated and experienced in providing this specific support. Book a workshop, talk or training session with expert facilitators who understand the intersection between DE&I, and MH and wellbeing. These sessions can provide valuable insights into recognising signs of mental health issues, reducing stigma, and promoting a supportive work environment for all lived experiences.

REMINDER: prioritising mental health is essential for the wellbeing and success of your team and events.

Here are some great resources from Mental Health UK:

The Stress Bucket

Healthy levels of stress can help push us, but sometimes it makes us feel like we can’t do anything at all. This simple tool can help us to think about ways we can release stress.

Link to resource HERE

Wellbeing Plan

Use our Wellbeing Plan as a tool to help you identify what good wellbeing looks like for you, as well as what it looks like when things aren’t so good.

Link to resource HERE

I hope these tools are helpful in getting you to start thinking about your mental health and wellbeing. There are more great resources available on the Mental Health UK website, as well as industry resources including EventWell? Stress Matters and Be In Your Element

When Should we be Pressing Pause?

I know I usually keep things fairly professional on here, but I feel like this might help someone, so here goes..

For many of us, the past four years have been a wild ride, and tbh, I haven't really taken the time to process it all properly. From redundancy to losing a loved one, to launching a business with a partner and then going solo - it's been a lot to handle in such a short space of time.

As someone who's always advocating for self-care (after all I teach yoga, meditation and wellbeing sessions for clients), you'd think I'd be on top of my game when it comes to self care, and while I'm pretty good at setting boundaries with clients and partners, and taking breaks, I recently had to ask myself - have I been fully practicing what I preach? ??

As the founder of Diversity Alliance, I pour my heart and soul into my work. But I've learned the hard way that to be truly effective in this work, I need to prioritise my own wellbeing too. Especially since tackling these issues can be quite mentally and emotionally draining.

Don't get me wrong, ambition and drive are amazing qualities to have. But constantly pushing forward without taking a break is not healthy. I've come close to burning out at least twice in the past year, and I don't want to get to the point where I can't do the work I love or enjoy my life.

So, I'm taking action and giving myself a proper break. I know it might seem like I'm always jetting off somewhere (Instagram ??), but most of that travel is for work or I work whilst I travel. What I recognised is that I really need some time to focus on recharging my batteries and finding fresh inspiration.

With Stress Awareness Month in full swing and Mental Health Week just around the corner, I want to encourage everyone to make their self-care and wellness a top priority, both in and out of the workplace. Whether it's taking a proper break to disconnect and recharge like me, or finding your own way to de-stress - the key is to do what works for you.

I get that not everyone has the flexibility to take time off work whenever they want or live a digital nomad life. But there are still ways to maximise your time off, like this cheeky little hack I found: https://www.flashpack.com/solo/careers/how-to-maximise-annual-leave/ ? ??

I'd love to know your experiences and strategies for managing stress and maintaining wellbeing.

#SelfCare #MentalHealthMatters #StressAwareness #EventProfs

Our DE&I Confessions Series is Sharing Some Interesting Experiences...

Diversity Alliance ? recently launched a new series called 'DE&I Confessions' where we ask participants to share confessions on issues relating to DE&I in the events industry. It's all completely anonymous and a safe space for people to share stories that have impacted them, to either ask for help, advice or to simply confess...

Why not share your's?

LINK TO DEI CONFESSIONS FORM https://form.typeform.com/to/YasEwfzQ

By sharing our experiences, we are not only empowering ourselves, but also contributing to larger conversations around how we can be more inclusive, equitable and accessible.

Check out this weeks DE&I Confession ?? ?? ??

Read in full here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5u8rnQROdF/?img_index=1 ?

?What advice would you give to her?

?Has this happened to you?

?What would you do differently in this situation?

I'm an AEO Judge?

I'm thrilled to share that I am a judge for the #AEOAwards24! ??? Whoop.

As someone who's passionate about the event industry and the incredible work that happens behind the scenes, I can't wait to dive into the entries. It's going to be an amazing opportunity to celebrate innovators, risk-takers, and those game changers who have pushed the boundaries to make a real impact on our industry.

I'm sure it's going to be a tough job picking the winners, but I'm looking forward to seeing the entries ??

Enter the awards here: https://lnkd.in/gYz7pzJ9

Book tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gPTbcEpV

Work With Us

Are you ready to create an event where every team member, supplier, sponsor, and stakeholder plays a pivotal role in fostering true Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?

DE&I Strategies Influence the Success of Your Event?

HOW?

1. DE&I strategies ensure a variety of viewpoints are considered, enriching event content and enhancing attendee experiences.

2. Embracing DE&I supports creativity and innovation, which leads to the development of unique event concepts and solutions.

3. Implementing inclusive practices attracts a wider audience base, increasing event attendance and positive engagement.

4. This demonstrates a commitment to DE&I which ultimately enhances the event's reputation and sustaining long-term relationships with attendees and stakeholders.

Reach out to work with us [email protected]

Until Next Time!