World Mental Health Day

On Saturday 10 October it was World Mental Health Day – an opportunity to recognise the importance of looking after the mental health of ourselves, our colleagues, and the people we care about.

RM supports the mental health of its employees wholeheartedly and believe that when we feel mentally well, we can work productively, enjoy our free time, and contribute actively to our communities. Through surveys and other feedback we know that people are getting the right support for their mental health and wellbeing at work is important – and we want RM to be a place where our people feel safe and supported in looking after their own mental health and the mental health of those around them. We spoke to Romy-Jane Ashmore, a Mental Health Champion and Catherine Clinker, a Mental Health First Aider to understand more about what is being done.

The Mental Health First Aiders and Mental Health Champions are a point of contact if employees are experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. They’re not therapists or psychiatrists but they can give initial support and signpost the appropriate help if required.

Romy told us that Mental Health Awareness is important to her after seeing the impact it can have on family members. As a mental health champion she sees her role as helping people to always see the positive and has set up a Let’s Chat forum for people to share stories, photos of their pets and keep in touch and have that human contact that they might not be getting whilst working from home.

Catherine Clinker a Mental Health First Aider set up our Let’s Talk groups just over a year ago as a way of supporting people across the business who needed support after completing her Mental Health First Aid training. She told us that the feedback has been really positive and encouraging and people are starting to realise that it is ok not to be ok.

Next week also sees our first session of Mental Health in the Workplace training for our People Managers as part of our ongoing support RM are committed to providing.