January can be a difficult time of year for many reasons. The pressure to set new year’s resolutions, post-Christmas blues and dark, cold climate can be a struggle. We know that the winter months also trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)—a type of seasonal depression—for some.
At Health Assured, we’ve found that calls to the helpline increased by as much as 16% in January compared to other months. We received tens of thousands of calls from employees last year, with the highest call volumes relating to anxiety, low mood, and depression.
This calls for action from organisational leaders and employers. We must address Blue Monday (17th January 2022) in the workplace as part of a broader focus on employee wellbeing.
Organisations must hit the topic of mental health head-on in 2022 rather than fuelling the stigma or brushing it under the carpet. Here are some tips for employers to take on this January.
Do a blue themed day to brighten the mood
Lifting morale and office spirits boosts productivity and communication between teams. Mix things up this Blue Monday by hosting a blue themed day. It brings awareness to January's difficulties and lets employees know that you recognise this. The themed day will also get colleagues talking to each and this can be a major preventative factor to mental health problems. Try to encourage communication in teams as much as you can throughout the year with events, workshops and network groups.
Provide wellness clinics on the day
Another way to approach the day is by using it as a platform to encourage employees to maintain good mental and physical health. You could offer health assessments, host a talk from a mental health professional or provide massages to employees as a way to de-stress. These wellness clinics may encourage employees to focus on their wellbeing. By encouraging employee wellbeing with healthy incentives you encourage them to make their physical and mental wellbeing a priority.
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Your health and wellbeing is paramount. We are therefore proud to offer access to an Individual Assistance Programme (IAP), delivered by Health Assured – the UK and Ireland’s leading wellbeing provider. Health Assured is included in Club Perks for all Business and Individual Memberships from as little as £5 per month with Individual Membership. For more information visit Health Assured - Key Partner | Floristry Trade Club.
