New World, New Challenges
During the last couple of years, we’ve learned how to become more interconnected, regardless of distance. Everyone has faced unique challenges throughout this period, from supporting others during a healthcare crisis to developing a remote/hybrid workforce; we have learned to work in a new world.
Ensuring mental health workplace support, learning, and initiatives can assist employees facing today’s challenges is crucial.
What is World Mental Health Day?
World Mental Health Day is celebrated on the 10th of October, 2022. This year’s theme is ‘Make Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority.
The day provides an opportunity for your organisation to add to the broader conversation, address mental health stigma in the workplace, and introduce new activities to support the event.
World Mental Health Day is a must for any business looking to engage its staff.
What is mental health?
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act.
As World Health Organization (WHO) says: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Mental health is realising one’s potential, coping with everyday stresses, working productively, and contributing to society.
“Your mental health is everything – prioritise it. Make the time as your life depends on it because it does.” Mel Robbins
How does mental health impact your organisation?
Mental Health negatively impacts businesses by affecting on-
Productivity and work performance
Employee engagement at work
Workplace communication
Physical capability and daily functioning
We look at five workplace activities that every organisation can do to promote positive mental health at work this World Mental Health Day.
1. Communicate about mental health
If your organisation already has mental health support, this is the perfect opportunity to promote it.
Utilise your workplace communication channels from emails, intranets, noticeboards, kitchen spaces, or anywhere there are communal gatherings.
Some people may have difficulty discussing mental health or feel dismissive about the term. Why not consider using different activities proven to aid and support mental health, such as mindfulness, self-care, and relaxation including activities for the mind and body.
You could consider gifting wellness boxes to promote World Mental Health Day. Wellness gifting is proven to achieve high levels of interest and engagement. The positive awareness and power of gifting will significantly benefit any corporate wellness programme.
2. Talk about mental health at work
Talking is one of the best workplace activities for World Mental Health Day. Why not arrange a get-together with employees, or encourage department heads to arrange smaller meetups? Don’t forget about online methods to engage with remote workers.
It is often said that a good cup of tea will cure many things. Connecting with others over a brew, real or virtual, can be incredibly restorative. Why not consider holding a 'lunch and learn' to promote avenues of support and available resources? Nothing gets people communicating better than sharing drinks and snacks. Consider incentivising attendance with breakfast meeting gift boxes, complete with additional literature and signposting information.
3. Recognition event
Whilst the act of ‘quiet quitting’ isn’t new, the phrase has undoubtedly highlighted a rapid uptick in conversations around those feeling under-appreciated at work.
Mental health day marks an excellent opportunity to ensure you recognise your workforce. Introducing a rewards and recognition system to your workplace culture will make employees feel more appreciated and valued.
4. Mental health pub quiz
A great way to raise awareness and start conversations in your workplace about mental health is to host a mental health ‘pub’ quiz.
Encouraging your workforce to discuss mental health openly brings its own set of challenges. Engaging your workforce in a fun and interactive way, coupled with snacks and prizes, guarantees a successful level of attendance.
A quiz is a perfect way to discover how much your employees know about mental health and to challenge misconceptions whilst highlighting the facts about mental health.
5. Encourage colleague Kudos
No small act of kindness is ever wasted! Saying something nice to someone can be incredibly powerful, and it is one of the simplest and easiest things to do. Expressing gratitude or complementing someone on their skills or qualities can boost a person’s feeling of well-being and is a practice that benefits both parties.
Why not run a kudos drive with our free printable kudos certificate and encourage your workforce to spread positivity this World Mental Health Day?
Gifts to support your World Mental Health Day programme.
To support your activities on World Mental Health Day, we’ve put together a collection including wellness and self-care boxes, breakfast meeting boxes, kudos certificates and much more.
Each gift can be branded to your organisation with colour-matched packaging, include your company literature, and delivered to individual addresses. Our handy bulk address uploader and in-house design team can ensure your Mental Health Day is a huge success.
About Colleague Box
Designed to deliver happiness, Colleague Box provides gifting solutions, helping organisations connect with employees, customers, or prospective clients. Gifts are fully branded with your company logo and personalised message, with boxes despatched directly to home or work.
Organisations can choose pre-designed gift ideas or curate their own to suit any occasion, from welcoming new starters, awards evenings, direct mail campaigns, or a simple thank you.
Custom gift portals and address upload templates make multiple recipients a seamless process, whether you’re sending 10 or 10,000 boxes.
Get in touch to discuss your gifting requirements or arrange a visit to our showroom for a brew and some tasty samples!