Supporting Workplace Wellbeing this World Mental Health Day

"It's time to prioritise mental health in the workplace"

This year, World Mental Health Day, is calling upon organisations worldwide to take action under the theme: 'It's time to prioritise mental health in the workplace'. The theme (which was chosen by a global public vote) underscores the urgency of placing mental health at the forefront of workplace wellbeing.

As the official charity of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, one of our core goals is to “enhance the health, wellbeing, and support of our workforce.” We’re passionate about supporting a workplace where mental health and wellbeing are at the forefront, and thanks to the incredible support from NHS Charities Together funding, we’ve been able to make real strides in this mission over the past year and further support the great work already being done. From the feedback we’ve received, it’s clear our initiatives are making a difference, and we’re so grateful to everyone who’s been a part of it.

Wellbeing on Wheels: Bringing support directly to staff

One such initiative is our Wellbeing on Wheels program—an innovative outreach service that saw a double-decker bus transformed into a mobile wellbeing lounge visit sites across Mersey Care. This initiative allowed our Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team to reach staff across five different sites, offering them a unique opportunity to recharge, relax, and learn more about the various wellbeing services available to them. With comfortable spaces for rest, massage chairs and information about ongoing wellbeing programs, Wellbeing on Wheels helped us make direct connections with our staff, invite them to take five (with a cold drink, a cuppa and a snack!) and signpost them to further wellbeing support available.

"It was a great experience, it’s not often we have the time as a team to have a bit of time out together to sit and chat we are usually on the go all the time. For us to go together was a lovely experience and to learn all things available to us as a Mersey Care employee was great."

Wellbeing Through Wildlife: Connecting with nature for mental health

In partnership with Knowsley Safari Park, we launched the Wellbeing Through Wildlife program—a social prescribing initiative aimed at supporting workplace wellbeing. This program allowed a number of teams from across the Trust to take a break from their day-to-day roles and reconnect with nature. Spending time with wildlife, engaging in mindfulness activities, and experiencing close-up encounters with animals not only offered staff a chance to decompress, but also highlighted the restorative power of nature. By giving our teams the chance to step outside their work environments, we reinforced the importance of taking moments for mental rest, and how those moments can positively impact overall wellbeing. Although places for Wellbeing Through Wildlife were limited, the feedback was incredible, and we look forward to doing more like this for staff in the future.

"We all had an absolutely amazing time, it was a huge boost to our mental health and well-being, our morale as a team and just our overall happiness. It honestly was so much fun and so beneficial."

'Pause for Thought' menopause campaign: Raising awareness and support

We are also proud to support our Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service’s Pause for Thought Menopause Campaign. This campaign is focused on raising awareness around menopause and its impact on individuals in the workplace, fostering an open dialogue to help create a positive cultural shift and support for those navigating this important life stage.

The Pause for Thought campaign has already gained national recognition, being shortlisted in three categories at the Menopause Friendly Employer Awards 2024: ‘Most Open Culture’, ‘Best Engagement Approach’, and ‘Best Trained Workforce’. The charity continues to fund the delivery of this campaign which includes the provision of essential products, outreach to staff and a series of educational training sessions and seminars throughout 2024-2025.

Supporting workforce wellbeing through Microhive

To further support employee wellbeing we have introduced salary giving scheme, Microhive, where staff can donate monthly (never more than 99p) to support workforce and volunteer wellbeing.

Whether it’s funding mental health workshops, team building activities, or wellbeing resources, every penny raised through Microhive goes back into supporting our staff and looking after one another.