Three Ways to Promote World Mental Health Day 2022

In case you missed it, World Mental Health Day is on the 10th October 2022

?This year the focus is on "Making mental health & wellbeing a priority for all"

What I’m hearing is that it IS a priority, but there’s also some pressure.??The HR people and leaders I talk to now are feeling like it’s a Catch 22 situation and asking me:

“How do we look after people’s wellbeing AND keep people at work so that the business is not impacted?”        

The stats say

“86% of respondents feel that their workplace is not a safe environment for employees to be open about mental health concerns''?

This means that managers are also struggling to support their people or know what reasonable adjustments are appropriate.?Instead, employees are often absent unexpectedly and this could have been prevented with early intervention.?

“One in three employees feel less able to raise mental health concerns during remote meetings”

?Employees often still feel shame around their mental health making it harder to open up and trust their manager when they work remotely.?Upskilling managers in spotting signs and being confident in creating conversations can result in catching and supporting people before their absence impacts business performance.

So how can you make mental health and wellbeing a priority for all? Here's 3 easy ways to promote mental health and wellbeing for the day .. any every day!

Create Connections

?Never underestimate the power of talking!?By creating opportunities for connections and conversation you are building the foundations for strong, positive mental health culture in your organisation.?

Those connections might be large or small, might be support groups, networks or focus groups or a simple tea and talk.

By making opportunities for conversations this will also make a significant impact in reducing the stigma around mental health. This is because it helps to normalise the conversation and help employees feel more comfortable talking about their own situations.

Share Experiences

?By encouraging people to share of stories and experiences we are helping others to recognise they are not alone, it’s not just them, and see things from a different perspective.

This might be getting a leader or manager to share their experience.?BUT don’t sit in doom and gloom, be practical, honest and share a learning or outcome.

?For example:??I know things might be tough right now, even I have been feeling worried about xyz.?I made me feel abc.?When I did / the plan for the company is 123.

You might want to get a guest speaker (erm, me!) to share a story that highlights ways to manage mental wellbeing and keep resilience high. I share ways to real truths, funny experiences and honest tough times from my journey of adopting kids. The audience hear how to keep going with small simple steps everyday.?

Raise Awareness

?This can be done in a variety of ways but is a proven first step in creating a more positive mental health culture.?You might want to provide practical, straightforward mental health awareness and training (also provided by me.)

?Make sure you share information of employee assistance facilities, who are the mental health first aid or champions.?But when you do this, please, please give examples of the kinds of things that can be helped here.?Often people think “it’s not relevant to me” or “my stuff is not work it’s personal so doesn’t apply”.?

Helpful? I hope so. Please do share what you are doing to help and inspire others.?

There will be more information in my monthly newsletter to support your organisation .. and in particular, help your managers to support people with mental health and wellbeing needs. ?

It also contains the latest industry trends, data and statistics about leadership and wellbeing so that you don't have to look around for it. To get this newsletter direct to your inbox, sign up using this link

To discuss how you can implement positive, practical support and strategies for your wellbeing and mental health awareness across your entire organisation, book a call with me.?

Emma Langton has 10 years experience in supporting mental wellbeing in organisations. She helps leaders with 1:1 coaching and organisations with wellbeing speaking, training and workshops. Emma regularly provides insights on leadership and mental wellbeing on her?Lessons for Leaders?podcast and has been featured in Forbes, Metro, Yorkshire Business Review and The Press Business Section.?