Lauren Waller, Executive Assistant at Rund and one of our Wellbeing Champions, shares a message on this year’s theme of Mental Health Awareness Week: community.
Today marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week, themed this year on Community. In recognition of this period, I want to take the opportunity to explain how our community is committed to supporting mental health.
Community is one of the strongest safeguards against common mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The sense that you are cared for within a connected group of people can give you the confidence to voice your personal struggles, knowing that you will be listened to and supported. For many people, community is rooted in their connections with family, friends, religion, and hobbies, but another source of community, often overlooked, is the workplace.
I know that factors like pride and not wanting to cause worry may prevent you from coming forward to your loved ones. Usually, these anxieties dissolve the moment you open up, but as a first step, a neutral third-party, such as a work colleague, can provide you with the opportunity to overcome what is often the hardest obstacle: acknowledging that you need support. This is where our Mental Health First Aiders come in.
The Mental Health First Aiders across our offices put themselves forward out of a passion for mental health support. They will not judge - they are here to listen in confidence, and there are likely among them people who have known struggles themselves. Personally speaking, maintaining my mental health has been a part of my life for years. Recently, I reached out for support through Vitality, provided by Rund, which got me a prompt GP appointment and a referral for therapy. I am also using the Headspace app, available free for a year through Vitality. This is teaching me how to meditate, which can help reduce stress and anxiety. I want to highlight these options because it’s important to know how you can support your mental health, even when you aren’t struggling. This is why we frequently signpost our Wellbeing Hub, which offers learning resources, and the Lighthouse Charity, which provides mental health and wellbeing training and a 24/7 chatline. We also encourage participation in our socials and activities, as we believe in the mental health benefits of feeling part of a strong community.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, know that you are not alone. Support is always available, not just this week, but in the weeks and months to come. The following resources are a great starting point:
Lighthouse - The Construction Charity
Thank you,
Lauren