Embedding Mental Health Best Practice Webinars

As a leading provider of Mental Health First Aid and building on our 'Embedding Mental Health Best Practice' conferences, we hosted three free webinars encompassing this year's Mental Health Awareness Week's theme of kindness. Each session focused on how we can all be kind and support others in the workplace.

Each webinar offered debate, inspiration, and best practice guidance to help organisations in the new working environment. View our session recordings and speaker slides below to see new ideas to enhance and support your company’s mental health initiatives, now and in the post-COVID-19 workplace

New ideas to enhance and support mental health initiatives: Now and in the post-COVID-19 working environment

Now is the time to find new ways to work which prioritises good workforce mental health and well-being. COVID-19 is presenting new and unique challenges to organisations with so many employees working remotely for the first time, isolated from co-workers, friends and family. The disruption is causing added physical, mental and financial strain for everyone. It is completely natural for this disruption and uncertainty to lead mental health challenges. This webinar will focus on:

  • What do we really mean by mental health – re-thinking what it means emotionally, practically and in the workplace
  • Influencing leaders to re-prioritise kindness and better understand the root causes of distress
  • Practical tips for connecting peer to peer groups and engaging staff across the business
  • How are managers and HR professionals responding to staff working remotely
  • Creating a kinder workplace as a positive community
  • Extending the role of wellbeing initiatives post COVID-19: integration and communication
  • Better signposting both internal and external wellbeing resources and partnerships

Download presentation slides

Speakers

Dr Alan Watkins

CEO & Founder, @Complete

Recognised international expert on leadership and human performance, a medical doctor, with a degree in psychology and a PhD in immunology.

Suzie King

Talent Specialist, HR, Marks & Spencer

Suzie is the co-founder of the employee led Buddy Network which is one of the Diversity & Inclusion networks in M&S, a peer to peer support group for people dealing with all health issues, mental or physical, or with disabilities within the company.

Claire Walsh

Head of SHE, Occupational Health & Wellbeing, BAE Systems Surface Ships Limited

Claire is the Head of Occupational Health and Wellbeing for BAE Systems – Naval Ships, with responsibility for developing and implementing a world class health and wellbeing strategy for over 4000 employees in the UK.

Recognising poor mental health: Self-harming, depression, anxiety – Practical communication and supporting strategies

As a manager it is now even more important to get to know your team and understand what they need and when they need a little extra support during this time. Understanding some of the signs of poor mental health does not mean you should make assumptions about what mental health problems your employees may have. Instead, use them as a way of noticing when you should check in and start a conversation about how your employee is coping right now. This webinar offers practical tips on how to take care of your employees’ mental health and well-being, and to recognise signs for early intervention and support.  This session will focus on:

  • What are the psychological effects of working from home during COVID-19?
  • Understand different types and signs of mental health challenges
  • Recognising those in need of extra support whilst working remotely
  • What kinds of tools are available to help employees remain at work: self-care, mindfulness, sleep therapy and exercise
  • Setting up team-building sessions focused on mental health – promoting early detection and support

Download Alan Watkins' presentation slides

Speakers

Dr Alan Watkins

CEO & Founder, @Complete

Recognised international expert on leadership and human performance, a medical doctor, with a degree in psychology and a PhD in immunology.

Satveer Nijjar

Independent Trainer / Public Speaker, Attention Seekers Training

Satveer has had a passion for reducing stigma around mental health, her experiences as a patient and as a parent of a child with mental illness have helped shape her career. Through her business ‘Attention Seekers’ she delivers her own CPD accredited self-harm awareness course nationally.

Recognising poor mental health: Self-harming, depression, anxiety – Practical communication and supporting strategies

As we live through this lockdown and pandemic, the main question for all managers and businesses are ‘how do we respond to and recover from COVID-19 stress and experiences during lockdown?’  One of the key ways in which managers and leaders can help will be how quickly they respond to the inevitable increased need for mental health and wellbeing resources. You may already have a Mental Health First Aider and Champions network, but extending wellbeing to be championed by line managers themselves is a vital way of building mental health awareness and responsibility across your organisation. Hear from experts with experience of mental health first aid networks, covering:

  • What will the new normal workplace look like: future predictions, harnessing existing policies and bringing new COVID-19 initiatives to the fore
  • Training line managers and Mental Health Champions - providing access to wellbeing resources and skills
  • Cost efficient ways to implement mental health best practices across SMEs and large organisations
  • Putting in place internal and external support for line managers to become Mental Health Champions
  • Practical tips to create an open culture where mental health and wellbeing is discussed openly

Download presentation slides

Speakers

Justin Varney

Director of Public Health, Birmingham City Council

Justin has worked at local, regional, national and international levels of the public health system on a broad range of topics including health and work, physical inactivity, LGBT inclusion, domestic violence prevention, sexual and reproductive health and public health delivery through allied health professionals and pharmacy teams.

Susan Gee

Group Occupational Health & Wellbeing Manager, Yorkshire Water

Susan is Head of Occupational Health & Wellbeing at Yorkshire Water and previously worked at Bradford Metropolitan District Council. An experienced occupational health professional, she has an outstanding record of achievement created through the development and implementation of robust strategies, initiatives and organisational change in occupational health.

Peter Cronin

Managing Director & Owner, We Are Acuity

Peter Cronin is the Managing Director and Owner of design agency We Are Acuity with experience of growing a business over the past twenty years from two people to approaching thirty. Now more than ever Peter understands it’s the mental wellbeing, as well as the talent of his team that’s crucial to success, stability and happiness at work and well beyond.