Here at AMES, we’re committed to supporting our employees all year round, and we’re proud to support Mental Health Awareness Week. Across our sites, we’ll be embracing the opportunity to open up the conversation.
Mental Health Awareness Week 2023
This year’s Mental Health Week takes place 15th – 21st May 2023 and the theme is anxiety – a normal emotion, but one that can become unmanageable if not dealt with. The Mental Health Foundation has chosen the theme to kickstart a nationwide conversation, encouraging people to share their own experiences and ideas on how they manage anxiety.
Breaking the taboo
At each of our sites, Kelkay Apta and La Hacienda, we’ll provide refreshments during Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, in a move to encourage colleagues to take time out of their day to talk with and support each other.
AMES HR Director, Nicola Sykes, delivered a talk on the importance of Mental Health awareness. This acted as a reminder to colleagues about where they can access help and guidance. Since we have a number of remote workers, we made the talk accessible to everyone on our shared network too – plus it’s available to watch back for those that missed it.
Mental Health First Aiders
We have 14 dedicated Mental Health First Aiders in our business and they’ll all be on hand during Mental Health Awareness Week as they are throughout the year.
The team is made up of volunteers who are passionate about being there for those who need it – they’ve had professional training and are equipped with the necessary tools to listen. Working with managers, the first aiders identify colleagues who may need additional support, and they act as a point of contact for colleagues who need it.
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
The Employee Assistance Program is a confidential employee benefit designed to assist employees with personal and professional issues that may affect their health or general wellbeing. Available 24/7, the EAP provides confidential support for a range of concerns, including financial wellbeing, mental health, and physical wellness. The AMES internal network, which is part of every employee’s onboarding, has a wealth of information about the EAP so colleagues who need additional assistance can easily access it – whoever and wherever they may be.
Education for Leaders and Employees
We know that education is an important step towards breaking the taboo around talking about our mental health, and we‘re seeing great feedback from the Mental Health Awareness Course that all of our Directors, Managers and Supervisors at AMES UK are asked to complete.
The course provides our leaders with fundamental tools to recognise and protect employees’ mental wellbeing in the workplace – and we’re so impressed by the results that access to a Level 2 Mental Health Training programme is also available for anyone at AMES who would like to attend.
Andy’s Man Club
At the end of last year, we welcomed Daniel, a volunteer from Andy’s Man Club to our Kelkay site. Andy’s Man Club is an amazing charity dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and helping men through the power of conversation.
As part of the visit, Daniel delivered a presentation and spoke about his own mental health journey, and he provided information about how their services can be accessed.
The feedback from the team was overwhelmingly positive and it was a clear reminder that #ITSOKTOTALK.
For more information about the club and the support it offers, visit: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/
Rachel Danby is the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Manager at AMES UK, and has been influential in embedding a wellness culture within the company.
She says: “Recognising the importance of health and wellbeing in the workplace isn’t a tick box for us. I’m proud to say that supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of our people has become part of our everyday culture and we continue to highlight its importance, which is why we make a point of celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week.
“We see this week as an extra opportunity for leaders to remind our teams of the positive provisions in place to support them all year round, from mental health first aid training to WhatsApp support groups. Every year we see more of our people embracing the importance of mental health awareness both at our dedicated events and in their everyday approach.
“This year, my own key message is: don’t forget to take time to talk.”
For more information about Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, visit the official website: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week
Find AMES UK on LinkedIn for more people and business updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ames-uk/
