From: Sarah Gyde, Marketing Director, Mila

The end of Mental Health Awareness Week seems like the perfect time to highlight the need to support all those individuals who are struggling with the intense stresses which the Coronavirus crisis has brought.

Mila has already issued guidance on how to implement safe working protocols to protect employees’ physical health, but their mental health needs to be protected as well.

Certainly, mental health was a key element in the risk assessment completed at Mila before we began our phased reopening at the end of April.

These are challenging times for everyone – whether they are furloughed, working from home, or returning to a work setting which looks very different from just a few weeks ago. We shouldn’t underestimate the impact that can have on mental wellbeing, and I think we have a duty as an industry to provide adequate support.

Mila has two trained Mental Health First Aiders within our business, whose role is to make sure that anyone who is struggling feels unconditionally supported and knows how to access the professionals, groups or organisations who can provide the help that they need.

As well as offering a sympathetic, non-judgemental and completely confidential ear, we are also signposting our staff to the NHS Every Mind Matters website and the government’s Coronavirus support website so that they know what support is available even if they are not physically at Mila and working from home.

For most businesses, there has been an understandable focus throughout the lockdown on getting the practical measures in place to help businesses restart. However, mental health support shouldn’t be overlooked, and the NHS and government websites are a practical and positive place for people to start.

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-at-home-tips/
https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support