Supporting Mental Health Awareness Week

Supporting Mental Health Awareness Week

At NorthEdge, mental health and wellbeing remains high on our agenda. With 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health problem each year, it is key that we are committed to understanding how to support our colleagues and portfolio to maintain and improve their mental health and wellbeing on an ongoing basis.

51% of UK adults believe there is still a great deal of shame associated with mental health conditions. In addition, Mind revealed that in a survey of over 2,000 adults, 66% of people say that we should be more considerate in the way we talk about mental health to avoid making people feel upset or ashamed.

One of the ways in which we can all encourage a change in attitudes towards mental health is through sharing experiences and insights. Our Beyond the Capital podcast has delved into stories, backgrounds and truths about mental health with episodes including:

  • Getting to know Stevie Ward , a former professional rugby player who discusses mental health, vulnerability and how to reach your full potential – listen here.
  • Getting to know George Bettany , Sanctus co-founder who speaks about normalising mental health in the workplace – listen here.
  • Getting to know Luke Ambler , storyteller, motivational speaker, author, mental health campaigner and co-founder of #ANDYSMANCLUB who chats about mental health within high-performance industries – listen here.

Over 1.9m people are waiting for NHS mental health services. The current climate is placing more stress than ever on the NHS. Issues such as the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis add to the complex problems people face, which can further impact mental health. There is also data to suggest that poor mental health costs UK businesses between £53bn and £56bn each year.

In private sector organisations, the average cost of poor mental health per employee is £2,000, which is why it is imperative that businesses support colleague mental health as part of a wider employee value proposition - ensuring we are building working environments where people can thrive. Autonomy, flexible working, financial wellbeing, fair pay, diversity, equity and inclusion, work-life balance, opportunities for progression and the absence of bullying and harassment are all principles which can help employees’ mental health at work.

However, only one-third of UK companies recognise the link between ‘good work’ principles and mental health; and only one in three UK CEOs have signalled a leadership commitment to mental health - despite the business and opportunity cost of not having a healthy and engaged workforce. Companies with high levels of employee engagement:

  • Are 21% more profitable
  • Have 41% lower absenteeism
  • Have a 10% higher customer satisfaction score
  • Can reduce recruitment costs; and increase efficiency and productivity

This is why NorthEdge became one of the first private equity firms to become signatories to the Mindful Employer Charter, developed as part of Devon Partnership NHS Trust . We have six mental health first aiders at NorthEdge, with a further 108 across the portfolio, and encourage businesses across the portfolio to invest in this area.

In addition, we have partnered with Sanctus Coaching, Mentoring & Listening , an organisation that helps businesses pro-actively support their people to achieve better mental health. Sanctus supports more than 100 businesses, both in the UK and internationally, to provide proactive wellbeing and growth support in the workplace.

As part of the partnership, every NorthEdge colleague has access to a one-to-one Sanctus coaching session every month. The coaching sessions offer a blend of personal and professional development, alongside proactive mental wellbeing support. Whether it is to discuss imposter syndrome, improve confidence or support our people to build healthy habits, we want our team to have the right support as they grow their careers and lives as part of Team NorthEdge.

Building healthy habits is key to improving public health, according to the World Economic Forum. Poor habits have a profound impact on societal health and increasing pressure on healthcare services.

The Vitality Habit Index, created in partnership with Discovery Vitality and the The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) , suggests that creating healthy habits has a profound impact on overall health.

40% of our daily lives are controlled by habits, formed by chosen behaviours repeated frequently over time. Small, positive changes which impact our mental health can have a significant impact on living longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Being mindful of your sleep routine, diet, exercise regime and general health is key to ensuring you maintain a balanced lifestyle which positively impacts your mental state of mind.

So, how can we as business leaders help?

Challenge the stigma. Encourage conversations around mental health in the workplace; share knowledge of how mental health problems can be treated and prevented; and invest in mental wellbeing support initiatives for your organisation.

Take action. Reach out to colleagues, friends and family for a coffee and a chat or take part in campaigns to raise funds and awareness through charities and organisations such as Mind , Mental Health Foundation , or Mental Health UK . This year, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week we have donated to Manchester, Birmingham & Leeds Mind charities.

Build support networks. Develop the mental health and wellbeing of your people with coaching, development and learning opportunities to encourage positive mental health.

Encourage healthy habits. A healthy mindset is the foundation of good mental health. Sleep, diet and exercise are just some of the things which impact the balance, so encourage colleagues to focus on these areas as part of bringing their best selves to work.

At NorthEdge, we have made a commitment to further educate ourselves to understand varying perspectives through our long-term diversity, equity and inclusion plan. We are committed to enhancing diversity efforts across all underrepresented groups in our business and in our portfolio, because we recognise that having a diverse and equitable culture can lead to faster growth, improved productivity and increased employee retention – ultimately creating more value for all stakeholders.

Take a look at the below resources for further information and guidance:

Mind

The Sleep Foundation

Nutrition.org

Help Guide

NHS: Live Well

Culture Amp

Haiilo


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