Mental Health Awareness Week: Promoting wellbeing in the workplace

Cultivating a culture which promotes wellbeing is essential for a happy, healthy, and productive workforce. In this blog, we explore practical strategies that organisations can implement to support the mental health and wellbeing of their people.

Wellbeing at work isn’t a nicety – it’s a necessity. Employees who are happy and feel supported are actively more productive, innovative, and committed to their role. The water industry is no exception to this and we have seen first-hand the benefits of fostering a culture of wellbeing through our engagement with a diverse range of employees working across the sector during the delivery of our apprenticeship and qualification programmes.

In light of Mental Health Awareness Week, Watertrain are supporting this year’s campaign and helping to raise awareness of how employers can practically support mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Encourage work-life balance

Supporting employees in achieving a healthy balance between work and their personal life is important in today’s evolving work environments. Encourage your employees to take their breaks, utilise their annual leave, and disconnect after work hours. Flexible work arrangements, such as flexible hours, can also empower your employees to manage their responsibilities effectively while attending to personal commitments.

Build a positive working environment

Create a workplace culture that values positivity, respect, and inclusivity. Practical strategies employers can implement to achieve this include: encouraging open communication, collaboration, and constructive feedback; recognising and celebrating achievements to boost morale and foster a sense of belonging; and providing equal opportunities for all employees to promote a culture of acceptance and understanding.

Prioritise physical health

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is about finding moments for movement in our daily routine. Movement is important for our mental health, but many of us struggle to move enough. Employers can play their part by encouraging their workforce to take short walks during breaks and stretch regularly throughout the day.

Find out more about Moments for Movement

Increase awareness of mental health

Employers can help their workforce to feel more supported by developing a deeper understanding of mental health. One of the most common ways that mental health can be impacted in the workplace is burnout.

Some of the signs of burnout include:

• Exhaustion
• Unmotivated
• Irritable
• Anxious
• Poor sleep
• Physical symptoms – e.g. headaches

View more information and resources on mental health at work

Promote workplace development

Providing equal opportunities to increase knowledge and skills allows employees to feel valued, whilst increasing their commitment and confidence within their role. In addition to supporting workplace wellbeing, robust training helps employers to increase capability, efficiency, and bridge skills gaps.

Watertrain is the UK’s leading provider of apprenticeships, technical training and qualifications to the water industry. Our team have a wealth of experience in delivering high-quality, engaging programmes and are committed to supporting the individual needs of each and every employer / learner we work with.

We also understand that training can sometimes place additional pressure on employees, which is why our learning and development team implement strategies such as regular 1-1 sessions with learners to discuss their course and anything they’re finding challenging in order to provide additional support.

To find out more about our range of programmes, please contact info@watertrain.co.uk.