Mental Health Awareness
On average, 1 in 5 kiwi’s suffer from poor mental health. The last few years have been particularly difficult with the effects of Covid in terms of lockdowns and isolations, making it easy to feel disconnected from people or places that are important to us.
Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) 2022 runs from 26th September until 2nd October. This year's theme is Reconnect - with the people and places that lift you up. Hei pikinga waiora.
https://mhaw.nz/explore/about/
So what are some things you can be doing to support your people at work?
We’ve come up with some simple ideas thanks to the Mental Health Foundation that you can implement in your workplace which are all centered around the theme of Reconnect.
Reconnect with Yourself
Connecting with yourself is a skill and really important to ensure you can find out how you’re really feeling. Encourage your team to take 5, grab a cuppa, sit outside (or somewhere quiet) and listen to the sounds around them, being mindful of how this makes them feel.
Reconnect with Loved Ones
Feeling connected to the people who are important to us can make a big difference to our mental health. Organise a shared lunch with your team. Catching up in person can give people a real boost (especially when it’s over some delicious kai!).
Reconnect with a Special Place
The places and spaces we spend our time in have a huge impact on how we feel. Most of us have places we can go that calm, inspire or uplift us. Encourage your team to take some time away from work and have their lunch at a place that makes them feel calm and uplifted. It could be their favourite café or a nearby park.
Reconnect with your Community
Savoring the little things/ connections makes us human – particularly when we are giving back to those in need. Arrange a volunteer day with your team – it’s a great way to connect together as well as helping vulnerable people in our community. This could be volunteering at Eat my Lunch or through the Auckland City Mission or doing a beach clean up. There are lots of organisations in need of an extra pair of hands!
Reconnect with Nature
Studies show exposure to nature not only makes us feel better emotionally, but it also contributes to our physical wellbeing. Organise a team walk at lunchtime or after work (ideally in a local park). You could even combine this with the Steptember program and create some healthy competition with another team!
At ColourHR, we’ll be doing our own wellness month focused on Reconnection. We’ll be focusing on a different theme each week. Follow us on Instagram to find out more.
https://www.instagram.com/colourhr/
If you’re wanting to know more about how you can support your people with Wellness Initiatives, please contact us!