Today is the first day of Mental Health Awareness Week, the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health. This year, the theme for the week is ‘Nature’ with two main aims for the week set by the Mental Health Foundation.

Clare Lyons-Collins MBA, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, Mental Health Consultant, caught up with our CEO Paul Britton earlier today, to ask him his view, personally and as a leader, on the impact of Mental Health during the pandemic and the importance of Nature for Mental Wellbeing.

In Oct 2020, we were delighted that the Rt Hon Theresa May MP helped the Chamber launch their Mental Wellbeing Charter. Organisations are invited to sign up to the Charter and pledge their commitment to building a positive mental wellbeing culture, which in turn tackles stigma and builds trust, ensuring that the right help is available to anyone seeking mental health support.

We recently caught up with Mrs May who spoke to us about the importance of nature and the powerful benefits that it has for our mental health.

Karl Simons OBE, a member of our Mental Health Steering Committee, has shared his view on how he thinks the pandemic has affected people’s mental health and what Nature means to him. 

Click on the image to read the full interview

Clare Lyons-Collins MBA, TVCC Mental Health Consultant, has been in conversation with Ken Jarrold CBE, Chair, Council of Governors and Board of Directors Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust to find out how important nature is to him.

Click on the image to read the full interview

• We commit to providing an environment for our employees to thrive in and encourage those who may be struggling to speak up and seek help.
• Through effective people management and training we foster trust amongst our employees, supervisors and leaders, to help create a workspace where employees feel comfortable to self-identify as a person with a mental illness.
• We understand that culture and leadership are pivotal to creating a healthy and thriving workplace.
• Our leaders are open about mental health and mental illness (be that through personal stories, or education)

• We will treat those experiencing mental illness as we would with someone experiencing a physical illness in terms of support, time off, and a supportive return to work.
• We will be honest and support people to live with ambiguity and uncertainty.
• We will actively risk assess those who are most at risk of developing or have an existing mental health condition.
• We will support our employees as parents and carers to enable their children to be well during this time.
• We will be a learning organisation – establishing learning relationships with other organisations and sharing what we have learned.

Mental Wellbeing Webinar 29.04.21

How an organisation, affected by this pandemic, can continue to look after their people.

Mental Wellbeing Webinar 21.01.21

Workplace wellbeing: A ‘fluffy’, ‘nice-to-have’ concept or a systemic & measurable business process?

Business Manifesto Advisory Group 22.10.20

The Role of Compassionate Leaders in Mental Wellbeing

Mental Wellbeing Webinar 10.12.20

The Bottom Line is Getting the Elephant out of the Room