World Mental Health Day 2024 – Workplace Gratitude

Today (10 October 2024) is World Mental Health Day – and this year’s theme is “It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace”. This is a topic of great importance to the Hector’s House team, and we are using it as a great excuse to talk about wellbeing in the workplace! Read our tips and find helpful links below.

(PS – Did you know Hector’s House offers CPD-accredited suicide alertness training and free Wellbeing Workshops for local organisations? Get in touch here to arrange one today.)

Gratitude at Work

What we want to focus on within this blog is gratitude in the workplace. Practicing gratitude is an incredibly powerful tool in helping us maintain a positive mental state. Finding just one small thing when you’re having a rough time can give you the strength to push on and can inspire a change in mood. What we also want to talk about is how gratitude can be weaponised against you, and what to look out for regarding a toxic working environment.

‘You’re lucky to even have a job’: Passive aggressive statement, or mantra to live by?

That’s the first question. Depending on context, both can be true. Who’s saying it – and why. There’s always somebody worse off than you, but in the same way comparison is the thief of joy, comparison can also be used to rob you of other valid feelings. Recognising that you’re “lucky” to be able to go to work, to keep a roof over your head, food on the table etc is not the same as allowing an employer or colleague to leverage that against you. For gratitude to be genuine it has to come from within.

Who is your work tribe?

In their waking hours, most people spend more time at work than they do at home. Are you a “work friends” and a “friend friends” person? Do you have a “Work Mum/work Dad” or even a “Work Wife/Work Husband”? These are all terms that get bandied about pretty loosely. For some people it’s very important to maintain strict boundaries with colleagues. This could be for hierarchical, or personal reasons. For most of us though, our colleagues are the difference between a great working environment and a terrible one. If you’re fortunate enough to work with people that you really connect with, try to embrace that. Let them know you appreciate them and try to acknowledge how lucky you are to have those people in your life.

Living to work, or working to live?

Why do you do what you do? If you’re lucky enough to love what you do, that’s great and it’s something to hold onto in tougher times. If you are in a career or job that is fulfilling, then taking some time to really focus on that can do wonders for your wellbeing. Whether that’s because you get to make a difference, or because you work in a field that interests you. If you enjoy your job that really is something to be grateful for. Especially on harder days. Is your job “just a job”, a means to an end and nothing more? That’s fine too. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. There’s a lot to be said for having a strong separation of your work life and personal life. Take some time to look at the things your job does allow you to do. Even if right now that doesn’t feel like much. If it’s allowing you to “tread water”, keeping you in a safe and secure home that’s a huge accomplishment. Being grateful for where you are now should never be a roadblock to striving for more. Wanting career progression doesn’t have to come at the detriment of embracing where you are now.

Gratitude tips

I ‘have to’ versus I ‘get’ to – I have to go to work = I get to go to work.

Think of 3 things that your job allows you to do, that you couldn’t otherwise. This could be paying some bills, getting out of the house, going on holiday, a friend you’ve made, meaning you can afford a little treat etc

Write down 3 things we’re grateful for every night before bed – can be on a phone (can’t think of any? Grateful for our bodies keeping us going, for nature, fresh air, favourite TV show or song etc)

Take a photo every day of one thing that brings you joy

Savouring = deliberately paying attention to the little things that make you feel happy during the day.

Do one kind thing every day for someone you’re grateful for, even if its just telling them that you’re grateful for their friendship

Make time for yourself by doing something you love – feel grateful to yourself for carving out the time for self-care

Look through your camera roll for a memory that brings you joy

For Employers/Leaders

As an employer or manager – what can you do for the wellbeing of your staff? You have a duty of care to all those in your employment, to all your colleagues around you, and especially to anybody that you oversee. What can you do to be more supportive? Well, as it turns out, lots of things.

Keep the ‘door’ open

One of them is to make sure staff know who they can turn to with any issues. Having a clear chain of support and knowing that things will be handled with dignity and discretion will help give staff the confidence to reach out when they need to. Show your team you have an open door – whatever the issue may be. If you are the person that people are supposed to come to, make sure to look after yourself, and that staff have another avenue. If a staff member has a complaint that needs addressing which involves you in anyway, that shouldn’t stop them being able to act on it.

Lead by example

Actions speak louder than words, and a good leader leads from the front. Try opening up to your staff as a way to show them it’s okay. There’s something very frustrating about being told what to do by people who don’t do the very things they’re espousing. Make support as visible and accessible as possible. Noticeboards, group emails, internal signposting hubs, setting up groups and areas for people to talk are all of immeasurable help.

Prevention is better than cure

All of these steps are designed to help ensure nobody comes to a crisis point. If a staff member is at a crisis, and you are concerned about their mental state, and/or suicide then decisive action is a must. Clear some time, make sure you have a space that is private and won’t be interrupted. Ask direct, and clear questions. Know what to do next. Here are some listening tips, and some resources for you to use.

Mind your Language

How you talk about mental health, sick days, suicide etc matters. Phrasing is everything when it comes to such complex and nuanced topics. It’ s important not to use dismissive or derogatory language when discussing mental health, and to challenge it when you hear others do so. If staff need mental health support, the narrative they’re “attention seeking”, or should “man up” can run rampant. It is everybody’s responsibility to challenge this line of thinking. It is so important for staff to feel heard and supported when they are in a period of ill mental health. By setting the example, all staff know they will be supported, and that can hugely increase workplace morale. If you are concerned with how to talk about these topics, please let us know. Hector’s House can deliver a 4hr CPD-accredited suicide alertness sessions to your workplace. Book your safeTALK here.

Tackle toxic work culture

Listen to your staff – are they talking about bullying, unrealistic deadlines, being over burdened? Be the change you want to see. Motivation, and people wanting to push themselves are great, but not at the expense of their wellbeing. There can be enormous pressure to work oneself into the ground. If people are experiencing “burnout” because of work stress, this should be addressed top down. Look at phrasing that gets used when discussing work. Certain phrases give people “the ick”, and are often viewed as red flags by the people they’re meant to encourage. When referring to the company as a “family”, for example, you can almost hear the eyes rolling. Ensure that staff support isn’t merely performative. Talk to your staff, find out what they need, not what you think they need to feel seen, heard, appreciated, and supported.

Look after yourself as a priority

You can’t pour from an empty cup! If you want to support the people around you, you must look after yourself. When you’re in a good place, it allows you to support others with much more patience and care. Empathy and compassion are not signs of weakness, and in no way should they diminish your ability to discipline staff, or hold them accountable. It can seem hard to balance looking after your staff with being their boss. As trite as it may sound, just try to treat them as you would like to be treated. Take time to show your appreciation for who they are, and what they do on a personal and professional level.

(Links etc etc etc)

Mental Health Foundation – https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/how-support-mental-health-work

Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/

NSPA reducing suicide at work – https://nspa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/bitc-wellbeing-toolkit-PHESuicidePreventiontoolkit-Feb2020.pdf

SafeTALK – https://hectorshouse.org.uk/safetalk-training/

Get in touch with HH – https://hectorshouse.org.uk/contact/