Mental Health Awareness Week (October 2-8) and World Mental Health Day (October 10th) are just around the corner and they’re an opportunity to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health issues, especially at work. Mental health problems have escalated since the start of the pandemic and we know through conversations with our clients that it continues to be a major concern for HR leaders.

In May 2021, The Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute reported that short-term disability claims due to mental health issues increased 6%, and duration was up by 12%.

This is an important opportunity to support your teams, have an open discussion about mental health, and raise awareness about the resources you have available. Hosting a lunch and learn or workshop is a great way to honour this topic and we have a few great options available to help.

Destigmatize Mental Health with Mental Health Training for Teams or Managers

This is a 1-hour webinar hosted by a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. It can be tailored to your managers and leadership or more broadly to your entire organization. The purpose of this webinar is to explain how normalizing mental health challenges can reduce stigma and encourage people to see support, both of which are at the forefront of World Mental Health Day. We also discuss why it’s important to lead with empathy, which is actually the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

We explain how to identify mental health challenges with yourself and coworkers and when and if to intervene or share resources. Finally, we discuss the difference between burnout and mental health issues and share coping strategies for both. If you’ve never offered this type of training to your teams before this is the perfect opportunity to do so, as it’s an important first step toward normalizing mental health conversations at work.

Empower Your Teams with Eating for Energy or Busting Stress and Boosting Happiness Through Nutrition

These are two separate webinars hosted by a Holistic Nutiritonist that outline the link between how we fuel ourselves and our energy, mood and resilience to stress or difficult situations throughout the day. Many people are unaware of the impact that nutrition has on mental health, however studies have shown that dietary patterns, such as eating a Mediterranean style diet, is linked to a significantly lower risk of depression. Blood sugar dysregulation can also lead to significant energy fluctuations throughout the day resulting in brain fog, anxiousness and loss of motivation. Having optimal levels of Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin D can also reduce the risk of anxiety and depression. P.S. This is why all of our recipes prioritize nutrient-dense foods in combinations that balance blood sugar. Our goal in these webinars are to empower individuals with dietary modifications they can implement right away to feel calmer, happier and more energized.

Prioritize Mental Wellness with The 5 Key Factors in Self Care

The 5 Key Factors in Self Care is another nutritionist hosted webinar, however in this one we cover the various lifestyle factors that we can prioritize to de-stress, calm down and recover. We outline the link between movement, our mindset, nutrition, rest, and our mental health and introduce some tools to calm the nervous system throughout the day. We also introduce concepts around successful habit formation and why small consistent habits are really what make the biggest impact. The goal with this webinar is to show the importance of prioritizing our own mental health and to highlight that even small changes can have a big impact.

De-Stress with a Movement Session

Finally, if you’re simply looking for a fun and lighthearted way to help your teams feel energized and de-stress in honour of Mental Health Week and World Mental Health Day, why not host a virtual workout. Exercise has been proven to decrease stress, improve sleep, and improve mood. It’s also considered an evidence based treatment for depression.  We have both a Certified Yoga Instructor and a Pilates Instructor/Kinesiologist as part of our team who can take your organization through a customized movement session.

If you’d like to book a virtual or in-person lunch and learn for your teams, email us here to speak with a member of our team.

Lastly, if you’re looking for more ideas around reducing burnout and supporting your teams with their mental health, click here.

Sources:

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