In 2022 mental health awareness week runs from Monday, 09 May until Sunday, 15 May.
This year the theme is loneliness.
We have put together some things you can do at work. Some are quick and easy to implement (in green), and some are long-term.
Just because you may be surrounded by people doesn’t mean you won’t be lonely. Loneliness occurs across all ages and affects people who are at work.
Loneliness costs UK businesses £2.5 billion a year through staff turnover, low productivity the impact of caring responsibilities and sickness absence.
Forward-thinking employers understand that good quality and meaningful connections at work are associated with better quality of work better workplace wellbeing and employee engagement.
Productivity and resilience are increased when employers tackle loneliness and support their teams to build strong social connections.
The Government recognises this and has identified five key areas in which to tackle loneliness at work. We have added some specific actions you can take as employers and as employees. We have highlighted in green some actions that can be carried out during Mental Health Awareness Week or done by individuals:
30 ways to tackle loneliness in the workplace
Culture and infrastructure
- Find out what is important to employees with a workplace wellbeing survey or tracker and align it to your corporate values.
- Consider loneliness when you are designing your workplace wellbeing activities.
- Identify and train a connection champion to address loneliness.
- Tackle the stigma of loneliness with conversations and training.
Management
- Ensure your management team can identify people who are experiencing loneliness. Consider specific ‘mental health for management’ training.
- Consider training for handling difficult conversations.
- Remember group-based discussions are more effective than self-directed l or online training.
- Ensure managers have clear boundaries and a solid understanding of the organisation’s signposting to sources of support such as a proactive employee assistance programme or mental health first-aiders.
- Consider times and stages when loneliness may be more of an issue such as starting a new job, changing roles, moving into management, returning from maternity or paternity leave, before retirement.
People and networks
- Ask a college how they are. Ask again and really listen.
- Set up social networks in work such as walking clubs, film clubs LGBTQI+ networks singing groups. carers groups and book clubs.
- Coffee and catch-up sessions for remote workers.
- Become a Mental Health First-Aider.
- Set up a mentoring programme.
- Set up an action group for specific events. The first one could be for Mental Health Awareness Week.
- As a senior colleague if they will mentor you or set up a buddy scheme.
- Create some information posters for work.
- Consider food. Baking events can be a great way to interact socially.
- This year’s colour is green so wear a green ribbon if you can. And if anyone asks what it’s for, you can have a great conversation and help tackle the stigma.
- Organise a comedy or quiz event online.
Work and workplace design
- Set up a social event such as a coffee morning or a ‘walk and talk’ event to raise money for charity.
- Create a physical space for social connections.
- Adapt an unused area for communal activities.
- Create an in-work gym.
- Ensure people have time for social connection building.
- Change the environment such as holding a wellbeing day away from the office.
- Connect employees with nature with a visit to a nature reserve or a park. Try a picnic.
Wider role in the community
- Open up your events and training to employees’ families.
- Set up an event in a non-work community centre.
- Partner with a small local charity.