Article 18 May 2023 Mental Health Awareness Week: One size does not fit all Continuing Mental Health Awareness Week, today we’re taking a deep dive into the various routes of support available to you at Mitie. Anxiety is a complex mental health condition, and it can manifest itself differently in everyone. While some people experience more physical symptoms like trembling, sweating, and muscle tension, others have more emotional or mental symptoms such as persistent worry or fear. This means that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when it comes to managing anxiety. To manage this, we have different resources in place to help manage anxiety in the best possible way for your individual needs. A key resource accessible to you is our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), provided by Vita Health Group. Their services include: Telephone counsellors, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year An online self-help portal Legal, debt and practical life management support Structured counselling by phone, face to face or online Career coaching (HR referral required) A manager support helpline, including day one intervention for stress cases Post-trauma critical incident support The Mental Health Fitness Hub, by Optima Health, our occupational health provider, is an online collection of videos, downloads and signposting links you can use to help support and strengthen your mental fitness. This content covers a range of topics, including mindful breathing, ways to control worry, self reflection techniques and more. The Hub is available for free throughout May, to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week! If you’re in need of a GP appointment, our Virtual GP service, provided by Health Hero, is available to you and your household, 24/7. By using the Virtual GP, you can flexibly schedule a GP consultation to access expert advice, reassurance and where appropriate, diagnosis, without needing to leave your home. Over on Learning Hub, you can find bitesize courses on mental health. The topics include dealing with stress, mindfulness, managing anxiety and more. These courses offer a more proactive approach to manage anxiety, providing you with the tools and knowledge to not only manage your own stress and anxiety, but to also recognise it in those around you. We have a network of over 350 mental health first aiders, who are trained to recognize the signs of someone who may be struggling with their mental health, and they can provide you with a listening ear, signposting, and referring to the relevant mental health support services. You can find out who your local MHFA is through the directory. Our financial wellbeing provider, Salary Finance, offer a range of tools to support responsible borrowing. This includes loans which are repaid through your salary, with higher acceptance and lower rates than most banks, as well as salary advances, allowing you to withdraw money from your salary as you earn it, without waiting for pay day. They also have a range of tools, videos, calculators and resources to support you with budgeting and planning. You can also download life guides on topics like buying a home or managing your money with kids. One size really doesn’t fit all when it comes to managing anxiety, and all of us have different coping mechanisms for dealing with the symptoms when they arise. By recognising that everyone’s needs are unique, we can create and offer a range of resources and services for our colleagues in which they can choose and benefit from. Stress and anxiety are a normal part of life, but with the right support, we can create an environment where everyone can thrive, both personally and professionally. MyWellbeing is where we care for each other – looking after our wellbeing is vital, because together we’re stronger. Visit the Wellbeing Hub to learn more about the support in place for your mental health.
