Our Well Being

You may already know that it is currently ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’, giving a voice to illnesses that many feel uncomfortable seeking help for. Jason Manford, the comedian, last week disclosed that he was suffering from depression and how important it is to get help before matters spiral out of control.  As he brilliantly said “Just because you are struggling doesn’t mean you are failing”.  This fear of ‘failure’ or what others, including our employers and colleagues may think of us, can lead to us burying our problems and not seeking the help that we need. 

As Nadiya Hussain (2015 Bake Off Winner) commented in a recent interview “If I break my finger, I go to A&E, if I have a cold I go to the Pharmacy. If I am broken inside, where do I go?...  So to help heal myself, I felt the best way to do this would be to talk, to share and to better understand what I have”

When Storengy UK invited employees to attend a St John’s Mental First Aid Course earlier this year, I jumped at the chance.  I have always believed that Mental Health and Well Being should be a top priority in all of our lives as it affects so many of us.  Depression, for example, can set down like a fog from nowhere and be so isolating.  Never knowing when the mist will rise again.  Anxiety can churn your mind round and round, wearing you down and making you physically ill. 

The two day course, which my colleague Marie also attended, covered different types of mental health illnesses and how to talk to someone who comes to either of us for help.  We are not trained Counsellors but we can offer you our time, empathy and help you work out a way to get further help in a confidential manner.

We display the ‘Charter for Employees who are positive about Mental Health’ on notice boards throughout our offices.  Storengy UK have signed up to this Charter which covers investing in appropriate mental health awareness training for line managers, the first session running in January this year, as well as being a non-judgemental employers.

Storengy UK positively encourages staff wellbeing, currently running an allotment on site and also promotes fitness which are all linked to our healthy initiatives.  We are located amongst beautiful countryside to enjoy walks or runs in our lunch break.  Some of our colleagues have also published a Storengy UK healthy eating cook book.   It is important that we all eat well, exercise well, rest well and sleep well and to also be kind to each other.  As Roald Dahl, the author, was quoted “I think probably kindness is my number one attribute in a human being.  I’ll put it before bravery and generosity or anything else.  To be kind – it covers everything, to my mind.   To be kind, that’s about it”. 

We all play a part in the Mental Health and Well Being of not just ourselves but for each other.  

Gail Young