Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 13th – 19th MAY

Every year, one in four of us will experience a mental health problem but many are struggling to access the help they need. As NHS waiting lists lengthen and stigma stifles debate, it is time to change course. Now in its 23rd year, Mental Health Awareness Week provides the perfect platform to start a conversation and play your part in having a positive social impact.

Organised by The Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week allows us to collectively prioritise the UK’s mental health, prevent mental health problems and take action to make sure we live in a society that values and promotes good mental health. It encourages people to discuss the issue, lobbies for changes in government policy and provides mental health charities throughout the UK the opportunity to raise money to fund their invaluable work.

At Wylde Connections we work with businesses large and small in developing robust sustainability strategies. Part of that involves focusing on the S in ESG and finding ways to enhance social value for all stakeholders. It is critical to create a culture that promotes wellbeing and looking after the mental health of your workforce is a key to being an ethical and responsible business. 

Mental Health Awareness Week offers an ideal opportunity to start a conversation and encourage people to improve their understanding and seek guidance and advice about all issues relating to mental health. 

We want to take the chance to promote the work of The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, a leading mental health and wellbeing charity with more than 50 years of experience in providing vital support services to individuals and communities. The organisation offers a wide range of initiatives, including counselling, advocacy, and training programmes, aimed at improving the lives of those affected by mental health challenges. 

One important element of its offer is the charity’s comprehensive Wellbeing in the Workplace programme, designed to support businesses in cultivating mentally healthy work environments. It offers tailored solutions and resources to promote psychological resilience and foster a culture of support and understanding.

All employers can take positive steps to support the wellbeing of their workforce, top tips include:

• Decide as leaders how you put Mental Health on your agendas. What do you do well and where could you improve?
• Understand how supporting employee mental health can improve your bottom line
• Make mental health conversations the norm across your business by running workshops and encouraging people to discuss key topics and share experiences. 
• Share resources and signpost people to support organisations.
• Train Mental Health First Aiders, ensuring they are a diverse group that your employees feel comfortable approaching.
• Ensure that business leaders lead by example by talking openly about mental health. Perhaps they could write a blog.
• Have an open-door policy and culture that gives people the confidence to seek advice and support.
• Give people a choice of spaces to inhabit in the office. Be aware of neurodiversity and understand that one size doesn’t fit all. Create a calm inviting space that employees can go to take break, destress and unwind.
• Don’t expect people to leave their personal life at the office door. Train managers to engage with their team, to understand their issues and help them access help. 
• Revisit policies and procedures regularly so they remain relevant and use employer assistance programme data to make improvements. Keep all your wellbeing and mental health resources in one place so that they are easy to access.

Use this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week to raise awareness and put support structures in place to achieve good mental health for all.

To find out more about The Kaleidoscope Plus Group visit www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk or click here to make a donation: Donate – (kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk)

To develop a sustainability strategy that puts people first through positive social impact, talk to the Wylde team today. Book a Discovery Call to learn about how we can help transform your business.