Let’s Talk Good Mental Health: Building a Culture of Real Support
October 10th is World Mental Health Day, and we wanted to take the opportunity to highlight what prioritising wellbeing for all looks like at Lunio.
At least one in eight of us is directly affected by mental illness.
And according to the World Health Organization (WHO), World Mental Health Day is a chance to “rekindle our efforts to protect and improve mental health”
The COVID-19 pandemic alone caused a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. And the same report also found that the services, skills and funding for mental health remain in short supply, and fall far below what is needed. As with physical health, some problems will need professional support to deal with, but some can be helped with preventative measures and self-care tactics.
So what does championing better mental health look like in the workplace? How can you replace well-meaning but ineffectual platitudes with internal policies that actually help mitigate the problems we all face?
In this piece, we want to share some of the approaches and policies we’ve adopted here at Lunio — for potential inspiration at your own company, or simply to put into practice in your day-to-day personal life.
Our Wellness Budget and Why We Have It
At Lunio, each member of staff has an annual Wellness budget of £500 that can be spent on anything (except tangible products), no questions asked. This was put in place so that if anyone was struggling to find extra money for a counselling session, wanted to take a spa day or to see a personal trainer, they could do that without worrying about how to afford it.
Jess Allbritton, Chief of Staff — To have the freedom to decide what wellness and personal wellbeing means to us is so valuable, acknowledging that we’re all individuals with differing needs and priorities. Whatever you want to spend your budget on, you don’t need to justify what difference it will make to you and why. It’s a mentality that’s woven into the fabric of our culture, from the tangible wellness budget and company-paid subscription to Headspace, through to our amazing Mental Health First Aiders who offer dedicated 121’s if you need to talk, and the colleague that makes you a cup of tea or comes out with a pun because you don’t seem yourself. It’s comforting to know however things may change as the company scales, that ‘wellness’, and with that, personal wellbeing, is an important part of our company ethos.
First Aiders Aren’t Just for Workplaces Accidents Anymore
At Lunio, we have 4 trained physical First Aiders, who are now complemented by 2 fully trained Mental Health First Aiders, Amar Chana and Lizzie Holberry. It’s important to us as a company that staff are supported when they need to be, regardless of what form their health issue takes.
Amar Chana— Physical first aid is really encouraged — legally, you need a trained First Aider within your company to help when needed. There’s no legal need yet to have a Mental Health First Aider in your company, but there should be. They’re just as important as each other. If someone falls over and hurts themselves, you would want a First Aider around to help patch them up and triage what to do next. So, why wouldn’t you want someone around to do that if someone was struggling with their mental health?
Lizzie Holberry— It’s more about removing the stigma, and shifting away from the mindset that you need to keep quiet and not tell anyone about how you’re struggling so that you’re not seen as weak or incapable.
We’re actually an open door for you to come and talk about anything at any time.
Amar — A majority of people spend a lot of their waking day at work. So having Mental Health First Aiders around in the workplace, to spot if things are creeping up on someone and to offer them support, is really important. It’s a bit harder now that we’re all working hybrid, as things can be harder to spot on zoom calls and such, but on the course we were trained in how to spot signs that someone is struggling and needs extra support.
Lizzie — There are so many different factors that someone could be facing, that might mean someone doesn’t have anyone to talk to, or they’re not comfortable opening up. It could even be that they’re not fully aware that what’s affecting them actually has to do with their mental health. So we’re that safe space for people to come and talk with full confidentiality, to not feel judged, and to get some practical resources and support.
What Self-Care Means to Us
Beyond the policies and support we have in place at work, it was important to us to spotlight individual approaches to supporting mental health wellbeing, as everyone is different and has different needs. Here’s what some of the team shared:
James Deeney, Content Manager — As much as possible, I try to do 20 minutes of meditation in the morning before starting work. I’ve done it for quite a few years now and find it really helps set me up for the day. Things inevitably go wrong from time to time, but having a regular meditation practice helps me keep things in perspective, and lessens my tendency to create mountains out of molehills. I’m a big fan of the Waking Up meditation app created by Sam Harris, and that’s the tool I’d recommend to anyone interested in trying out meditation. Headspace is great for beginners too.
Zuzanna Krüger, SXO Manager — Self-care for me means being good to myself, even when I don’t feel like it. It means forgiving myself for things I can’t control, and letting go of what I can’t change. It means allowing myself to feel my feelings, even the tough ones, and giving myself permission to do things that make me happy.
…Even if it means letting go of some commitments and playing Overwatch 2 instead because, hey, I’m doing a good job, I deserve it!
Ellen Maulder, Marketing Coordinator — Self-care to me means making time to switch off and relax from responsibilities and just doing things I enjoy that are purely for me — whether that’s going for a walk, having a bath, or watching some reality tv.
Lunio are great at prioritising mental health in the team and since joining I’ve definitely put more of a focus on my own. With my wellness budget, I was able to sign up for personal training sessions and I’ve also started seeing a therapist which I’d recommend to anyone.
Self-Care Tips from the Lunio Team
Here are some practical recommendations from our team on what to do when you just aren’t feeling yourself (some tips were from contributors who wanted their input to remain anonymous).
Everyone is different, so it usually takes a bit of trial and error to land on a self-care routine that feels like it really works when it matters. And remember, if you’re really struggling, one of the best things you can do is reach out and talk to someone you trust.
Teach Others How to Treat You — If there are specific things that will make you feel safer, or help you if you’re struggling, then choose someone you trust and share that info with them. If you explain these things on a good mental health day, when you are more able to articulate things clearly, it will be easier for that person to support you on a day when you’re finding it more difficult to communicate your feelings or needs.
Be Your Own Best Friend — Some of us have an internal monologue that can get really mean sometimes. While this is easier said than done, try to break that feedback loop of self-criticism by defending yourself against any statements you would defend someone else against. Would you let a loved one be told that they were ugly, stupid, useless? Think about what you would say in defence of another, and repeat it back to yourself.
Learning how to even occasionally disconnect from the internal voice in our heads is key to putting things in context and reducing stress, anxiety, and fear. There are mindfulness techniques you can use to help do this. The more you do them, the more mentally healthy you start to feel.
Pete Rawlinson, Chief Marketing Officer
Plan for Sad Days — If you are someone who has foreseeable dips, think about what would help you on a bad day. It could be working from home to counter stress or anxiety, needing a daylight bulb and vitamin D to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder, or just something that will cheer you up if you’re having a blue day.
This is something I’ve been doing for a few years now: on a good day, stock up your food supplies for those bad brain days, so that no matter your energy levels, there is nutritious, comforting, favourite food to be had with little effort. Similarly, prep a hobby box: imagine you’re making a little kit box for someone as a gift, except it’s for Sad Day You. Put in something to do, something to drink, a snack, something that will make you feel cosy. My box usually contains sewing supplies, chai teabags, a scented candle and some schmancy chocolate. Planning things out in this way helps you to look after yourself the way you would look after someone else having a bad day.
Riven Alyx Buckley, Social Media Manager
You Cannot Pour From an Empty Cup — Prioritising your own mental health is not being selfish, it’s a necessity. Don’t be afraid to be clear about what you need, or to take a step back to recharge when you need to.
Resources and Further Reading:
How to Become a Mental Health First Aider: course info and resources
Setting up a Wellness Budget For Your Company (and how to get it approved)
Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams and Danny Penman
The Mindful Way Through Depression by Williams, Teasdale, Segal and Kabat-Zinn
Full Catastrophe Living by Jn Kabat-Zinn
