By Allan Fourie, Corporate Accounts Director and member of Salisbury Group’s Social Value Committee

This weekend marked World Mental Health Day – We’re in it together. At Salisbury Group, we recognise the importance of mental health and therefore want to ensure all our valued employees are yet again reminded of this throughout this week of mental health awareness.

Even on the best days, stress can prevent us from being fully focused and doing our best work. Too much of it can lead to burnout, disengagement, sick days, and strained relationships in the workplace. And unfortunately, it’s still possible for people to share an office space or work alongside a colleague and be unaware they have a debilitating mental or psychological condition. Unlike most physical illnesses, the signs of poor mental health aren’t always easy to spot.

In the wake of COVID-19, it’s never been more critical for businesses to address the mental wellbeing of teams head on. The pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty have negatively affected many people’s mental health and elevated concerns for those already living with a mental health illness.

Supporting wellbeing in Salisbury

We recently surveyed our people how best we can support their wellbeing in Salisbury. We are going to act on the results to further improve the Salisbury workplace experience for all. We are determined to take mental health awareness seriously all year, and not just for World Mental Health Day.

Practical steps everyone can take

Mental health is a vital national issue at the best of times, but the need for meaningful support has become even more relevant as we all have navigated the challenges of the pandemic. So, here are some practical ways we can all look after our mental health.

  1. Talk about your feelings. Talking about our feelings can help us when we feel troubled. It’s part of taking charge of our wellbeing and doing what we can to stay healthy.
  2. Keep active. Regular exercise can boost self-esteem and help us concentrate, sleep and feel better.
  3. Eat well. Our brains need a mix of nutrients in order to stay healthy and function well. A diet that’s good for our physical health is also good for our mental health. 6. Take a break
    A change of scene or change of pace is good for mental health and enjoying ourselves can help to beat stress.
  4. Drink sensibly. We often drink alcohol to change our mood but the effect is temporary and when it wears off we feel worse due to the way alcohol has affected our brains and bodies.
  5. Ask for help. We all get overwhelmed by how we feel, or when things don’t go to plan. Family or friends may be able to offer help or a listening ear and local services can also help.