Have you ever noticed that every single year on October 10th, we have the same three conversations?

We all jump onto LinkedIn to preach that:

Mental health is year-round (not just on October 10th)
Awareness of mental health is only the start
Support needs to be more than just oranges at reception or a yoga class at lunch
If we’re having to have the same conversation every year, then surely nothing has changed. We talk about the problem instead of solving the problem. This is the irony of October 10th.

So, let’s start walking the walk. Here’s what you can do to make a tangible difference to the mental health of your workplace.

Offer a comprehensive programme of support

You need to ensure that you’re not just ticking a box. Instead of just hosting a one-off event on October 10th, you need to embed wellbeing into the nature of your company. Be consistent with regular events, support sessions, and wellbeing advice.

Create psychological safety

Nothing rings more false than an initiative that is not supported by management. Your employees can tell if you don’t believe in what you are preaching and it’s especially obvious if your management style, workplace practices and approach to work don’t consider your team’s wellbeing. Don’t just tell your employees you support them, make sure they feel supported.

Don’t keep it quiet, promote it

Your support needs to leap off the page and into daily conversations. This means both promoting the support you offer and promoting good mental wellbeing. We tend to only focus on the extremes of mental health and forget that our wellbeing is a process. So ensure that your staff know that taking small steps today will help them in the long run.

What next?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry, the Excel is here to help you avoid the trap of wellbeing washing.

I personally teach our Mental Health First Aid course to advise and guide you. At the end of our course, you and your team will have the tools necessary to support mental health every day of the year.

Want to find out more about our Mental Health First Aid course? Email me at rachel@xlnw.org