STAFF AT NORTH NORFOLK EMPLOYER BENEFIT FROM WEEK OF MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING ACTIVITIES
A north Norfolk employer laid on a whole week’s worth of activities and support for its staff to mark Mental Health Awareness Week – with mindfulness sessions, wellbeing workshops and hand massages among the events held to help employees lower their stress levels and raise awareness of mental health issues in the workplace.
Victory Housing Trust, which is based in North Walsham and employs around 90 people, decided to take full advantage of the national awareness week to help boost the wellbeing of staff – and to raise money for mental health charity Norwich and Central Norfolk Mind at the same time.
“With one in four of us likely to experience mental health problems at some stage in our lifetimes, and with stress at work being one of the main triggers for mental health issues, we decided to create a whole week’s worth of awareness and support activities for our staff,” explained Victory director of housing Christine Candlish.
“Our staff engagement team worked with Mind and various external wellbeing experts to bring a whole range of activities to our staff during Mental Health Awareness week.”
Among the events which took place were a series of wellbeing workshops led by the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, half-hour mindfulness sessions, and hand massages given by qualified beautician - and Victory HR assistant - Dee Whelan.
Staff also held a bake sale in the office to raise money for Norwich and Central Norfolk Mind, the mental health charity.
“Employers are increasingly realising that we have a responsibility to look after the mental health of our staff, something which benefits both the individuals and the employer,” said Christine Candlish. “Mental Health Awareness Week is a good initiative to raise awareness of the issues, and we were delighted to get so involved.”
Mental Health Awareness week runs from 14th-20th May. More details can be found at https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week.