This year's theme for Mental health awareness week is Community - Being part of a community can make life feel more meaningful and enjoyable, help us feel happier and safer, and improve our mental health. Here are 10 tips how getting involved in your community can improve your mental health
For over three years NICVA has created a community supporting wellbeing, providing opportunities for staff to improve their wellbeing, mental and physical health. We have engaged with the Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Work Well, Live Well programme to help us.
We have a Wellbeing team that is made up of staff from across the organisation who have volunteered to plan and implement our wellbeing strategy. The team - Roisin, Susan, Dawn, Leeann, Craig, Shauna and Sandra - all have enthusiasm for wellbeing that has become part of our culture.
Our plan focuses on physical and mental health and wellbeing of staff, creating a positive psychosocial work environment and supporting organisational involvement in the community.
We do this in a variety of ways, most of which are low or no cost, involving members of staff and tailoring what we offer to meet their needs. Below are some of the things we have done and hopefully they will give you a few ideas for you and your organisation.
Some low or no cost ideas
Walking
We encourage staff to get out walking at home or when in work in NICVA. We have walking lunches once a month in our local area. Over the years we have had walking challenges like "NICVA to the North Pole" in December or completing target steps in a month. We also promote walking meetings for staff especially now in the nice weather.
Staff organised activities
We have a talented staff team in NICVA who have many abilities beyond their job so we like to put those to good use. This is a great way to have some fun, while learning a new skill, all fantastic for our wellbeing and mental health. The other added bonus is that it is completely free. Roisin is a qualified ReelRobics instructor so she has held some fun and energetic sessions for staff. Paula is gifted at flower arranging and has organised several wreath and table display-making workshops for staff – very relaxing and a great way of getting to know others. Lynda has planned a dessert-making session for us in June so we can’t wait to learn about that and then sample them later.
Awareness sessions for staff
We have held a range of awareness sessions and workshops for staff on topics such as Menopause, Sleep well, Mindfulness, Stress management, Nutrition. There are also sessions organised by NI Chest Heart and Stroke as well as other member organisations such as AWARE, Action Mental Health and Inspire.
Awareness days/weeks/months
We send information about various topics through regular emails signposting to useful resources on topics such as mental health, nutrition, stress and various health conditions/illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. You can see a calendar of awareness days here
Fundraising and involvement in local communities
Many of our staff volunteer with local community groups and charities and we feature them in our staff newsletter to encourage others to volunteer. This ranges from GAA clubs, St Vincent de Paul, local churches, PTAs, Sunshine Foundation Romania, Softball.
Each year Denise and Roisin take part in the NICHS Red Dress Run and a team of staff plus a few people who used to work in NICVA run the Belfast Relay to raise money for The Sunshine Foundation Romania. We have held coffee mornings to raise money for MacMillan and St Vincent de Paul.
Potluck lunches
We have had a few pot-luck lunches after our quarterly all-staff meetings. This is where everyone brings in something to share with others over lunch – including salads, cheeses, bread, fruit, meats, quiche, dips, crisps, desserts etc. It is quite a spread and everyone enjoys chatting over plates of the delicious food.
Other activities
- Sunflower planting and growing competition
- Lunchtime yoga
- Policies promoting wellbeing eg Menopause Policy, Flexible working Policy
- Staff development day
- Health checks for staff
- Employee assistance programme
- Eye tests for staff
Action for Happiness calendar - has lots of ideas for improving wellbeing
More information and what you can do
It only takes a few small steps to start up a wellbeing group and develop a plan for your organisation.
This will have a positive impact on your staff and their wellbeing.
If you would like more information about setting up a wellbeing group in your organisation you can contact the Work Well Live Well Team in NI Chest Heart and Stroke or Sandra or Roisin in NICVA.
