Everyone in a company or organisation can play their role in promoting an overall culture of wellbeing, and in turn can benefit from it.

We can all do more to ensure that we look after our mental health and wellbeing.  Companies should try to foster an environment where emotional needs are valued and where stress is minimised as much as is possible.
Managers can have a definitive role in this by promoting positive mental wellbeing and helping people to make healthy decisions.

A good starting point for thinking about this are these twelve tips for staying happy.

Tips for staying happy

1.    Keep physically active
2.    Eat well
3.    Only drink in moderation
4.    Value yourself and others
5.    Talk about your feelings
6.    Keep in touch with friends and family
7.    Care for others
8.    Get involved, make a contribution
9.    Learn a new skill
10.    Do something creative
11.    Take a break
12.    Ask for help
Reference: Making it Possible: Improving Mental Health and Well-being in England (CSIP 2005)

Employers should encourage staff to make healthy choices and help employees to take steps to keep themselves mentally well.

Employers should also lead from the front and be positive about the need for better understanding of mental health difficulties.

Joining a scheme like MINDFUL EMPLOYER® shows a commitment to making your company positive about mental wellbeing and will also help you to develop policies that work.

In this way, companies can send a message to customers, commissioners and the public that they are forward thinking and care about the mental wellbeing of their staff.

As importantly, they show their staff that they are serious about helping them to look after their mental wellbeing.  This reassures members of staff who may be experiencing mental heath difficulties and helps all staff to understand the issues surrounding mental health, dispelling any stigma.

Tags: health and wellbeing, healthy choices, improving mental health, mental wellbeing