It’s Mental Health Awareness Week! A time for us to reflect on mental health and tackle the stigma behind it.
Mental health decline often goes unnoticed within communities and sometimes even within ourselves. This is often because we don’t comprehend how broad and complex the topic is. Mind Your Way is a great read for those wanting to gain greater insight on the matter.
Being aware of your mental state is the first step towards the process of overcoming it. Here are a few important questions to regularly ask yourself to help in identifying any underlying issues:
“How am I feeling today?”
“What’s been worrying me lately?”
“Am I providing my body with its basic needs?”
“What am I doing to bring myself joy?”
“Who do I have in my corner?”
If you’re concerned at any point, do not feel discouraged by the stigma attached to mental health. Speak to a professional for some advice.
At b&m we understand just how important personal wellbeing is and do our best to look after our staff. We have two Mental Health First Aiders, Paul Gannaway and Dom Mulford, that have undergone extensive training to assist if needed. The role they play is not only valuable to our staff, but valuable to b&m. In prioritising our staff’s wellbeing, our staff morale remains high which has had a direct impact on their personal development. We pride ourselves in creating a safe space for our team.
We asked some of our staff what they do to look after their mental health and these were some of their answers:
“I run a Scout Group near where I live comprising Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. It’s a lot of fun for me and gives me the opportunity to give back to the community. It keeps me young and gives me a focus outside of the office” – Craig
“Walking my dog in the morning gives me a fresh start to the day” – Elliott
“Meditation helps with my stress levels” – Becky
“I find baking very therapeutic, the best part is of course eating what you’ve baked!”– Ria
