The global pandemic which is COVID-19, has significantly impacted how we work, how we interact with people (workmates, loved ones and strangers alike), how we go about our daily lives, how we study and so many other aspects of our lives.
This has led to a combination of stress and uncertainty with a lot of Kiwis, and can have substantial and wide-reaching impacts on the mental wellbeing of all New Zealanders. It is normal to not feel alright all the time. It’s understandable to feel sad, distressed, worried, confused, anxious or even angry during this crisis. It is an unpresented event to happen in our lifetime so there are no guidelines on how to feel. Everyone reacts differently to difficult events, and some may find this time more challenging than others. The ways people think, feel and behave are likely to change over time – we all have good days and bad days. In the early 2000’s the New Economics Foundation conducted a research report called ‘The Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing research report’. (The New Economics Foundation is a British think-tank which uses information and data from all around the globe.) As a result of their findings an initiative called "The Five Ways to Wellbeing" was created. Here in New Zealand 'The Five Ways' programme has been developed and promoted by the Health Promotion Agency and the Mental Health Foundation. This programme helps support mental wellbeing in the workplace. NZBA is proud to be offering a workshop, using the 'Five Ways' as its foundation, to encourage, establish and support mental wellbeing programmes in workplaces. We spend a third of our adult life at work and there is no denying that current events have created extra stresses that nobody would have been prepared for, so workplaces who are looking out for their teams mental health are already steps ahead of the game. Having workplace wellness programmes in place can help workplaces to improve retention, improve resilience, have higher commitment from their team as well as higher productivity and fewer accidents. NZBA's 'Supporting Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace' workshop can help you to incorporate the principles of 'The Five Ways' into your workplace culture. You already look out for your team's physical wellbeing, now is the time to look after their mental wellbeing as well. The Five Ways to Wellbeing is a simple concept containing five simple ideas to support mental health. The Five Ways are: Connect: Connecting with people and having good interpersonal relationships is important to build a sense of belonging and self-worth as well as numerous other benefits. Keep Learning: Research has shown that learning new things can boost your self-confidence and self-esteem which is great for your mental wellbeing. Be Active: Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness but it is great for your self-esteem and helping to set and achieve goals and challenges. Give: Giving to others helps to improve a sense of reward, purpose and self-worth. Take Notice: Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. The benefits to a workplace from ensuring their team understand mental wellbeing are immediate and can reach beyond the work team to their friends, whanau and the wider community. As the team of five million work together through these high-stress times, programmes like these can strengthen the team to move forward with a positive outlook. Get in touch with us today to find out how you can register your team for this workshop.