Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 – Talking about Mental Health

Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 – Talking about Mental Health

12 May 2023

In support of Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, we joined the #tohelpmyanxiety conversation to raise awareness and understanding of anxiety and help smash the stigma associated with mental health.

Through this campaign we worked in collaboration with the mental health charity; Mind on a two-page ‘About Anxietyguide helping colleagues understand anxiety is a natural response to situations that might feel threatening, and it is common to feel anxious when faced with stressful situations such as; a change in circumstance, big life event, physical or financial concerns. The guide also helps colleagues understand that if anxiety impacts our ability to live our lives as fully as we would like, it could become a mental health problem, highlighting some of the physical, emotional, and behavioural signs to look out for, providing tips for managing anxiety and importantly, where they can access help and support. 

Throughout the week colleagues and leaders across the whole business shared their own experiences of anxiety and steps they take / have taken to manage their symptoms across our online colleague network site as well was within their own teams locally.

‘Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid – particularly about things that are about to happen, or which we think could happen in the future.’ - Mind

Furthermore we know having the support of people around us can make a huge difference to our mental health and wellbeing, particularly at work. We want colleagues at every level of the organisation to feel supported, with line managers who feel equipped to support their teams and who care for their own wellbeing. That’s why we’ve refreshed our Line Manager Mental Health Training and it is now mandatory for all new and existing line managers.

   

Programme uptake:
Campaign seen by over 57,000 colleagues (Total no. employed c152,000). Attracted over 400 positive reactions on Viva Engage. Resources viewed over 1,400 times.