From traditionally being a “nice-to-have”, internal wellbeing programs are now “must-haves” if companies want to retain top talent and maintain brand image. With the onus increasingly being placed on companies to develop healthy individuals (not just employees), Dorcas discusses what an ideal situation would look like if companies strived to maintain a mental health first culture at work.

If you are being asked about who you are, what would you say? Oftentimes, we identify ourselves based on our work. Our job title becomes our identity but is that really all we are? Our volunteer Mika shares with us how she’s navigating her endeavours and the reminders that she carries with her along the way to cultivate calm.

While conversations on mental health have been gaining more attention since the rise of COVID-19, it is still considered a sensitive topic within the workplace. This could be a result of pre-existing stigma which can hinder discussions on mental health. To tackle this, Ciaran provides three key approaches that can help foster feelings of safety and positivity within the work environment.

Understanding other people's emotions is a key skill in the workplace. It can enable us to resolve conflicts, build more productive teams, and improve our relationships with the people around us. However, many people are self-conscious about discussing their own feelings, never mind someone else's!

As the pandemic continues to intrude on our daily lives, employees will need and increasingly demand resources to help them cope with their mental health. With that being said, how can leaders and individual team members play a part in creating an environment of workplace wellness?

Why is it culturally acceptable for us to take sick leave when we are dealing with a physical illness and not a mental one? That’s because mental health is still not fully understood and rarely discussed openly in the workplace and we need to normalise such conversations ASAP.