Today marks Time to Talk Day, a day organised by leading workplace mental health charity, Mates in Mind, to celebrate and encourage small conversations about mental health which have the potential to make a big difference. The suicide rate in the construction sector is alarmingly around 3.7 times higher than the national average, so employee mental health and wellbeing is something we’re particularly passionate about at ADT Workplace.
Whether it’s a quick text to a friend or colleague, a virtual coffee morning or a socially distanced walk, small conversations can make a big difference to how we feel, and might just be the thing that helps a person get through a tough day. And with the Prime Minister announcing last week that the latest lockdown is likely to last until at least March, in more important than ever to make sure we’re checking in on those around us – whether that be friends, family, neighbours or colleagues. To break down barriers and encourage more people to talk about how they are feeling, Mates in Mind has put together some useful tips to encourage conversation:
- Ask questions and listen: try to ask questions that are open ended and not leading or judgemental, and listen properly to the answer
- Consider the time and place: sometimes it’s easier to talk side by side than face-to-face
- Don’t try and fix everything: learning to manage a mental health problem can be a long journey so try not offer quick fixes. Simply talking and listening can be really helpful
- Be patient: no matter how hard you try, you can’t rush someone who isn’t ready to open up
In support of Time to Talk Day, we’ve arranged a number of Team Talks for today, where our colleagues are encouraged to join a virtual chat with a small number of other colleagues, in which people can take five to relax and chat informally about all things non-work related. We understand that speaking about mental health is not always easy, so we make sure our colleagues continue to be supported through a number of another initiatives including access to trained Mental Health Workplace First Aiders, private medical care and an employee assistance program, as well as virtual exercise classes and team building sessions.
For more information about the valuable work of Mates in Mind, you can visit: www.matesinmind.org. Or if you are struggling, there is always someone available to talk at a number of fantastic organisations:
• Mates in Mind: 020 3510 5018
• The Samaritans: 116 123
• Sane: 0300 304 7000
• Hub of Hope (App)
• Mind: 0300 123 3393
• Construction Industry Helpline: 0345 605 1956