So, how are you really?
Hello, how are you today? We ask or are asked this question multiple times a day, and often the response is ‘I’m fine thanks, how are you?’
No matter what we are really feeling, what is going on at home or at work ‘I’m fine’, ‘I’m alright’ is the culturally acceptable answer. So what if we asked the question again…
How are you really? We really want to know how you are, yes really! We want to move beyond the typical answer, and we want to give you some tools and support for the days when the answer ‘I’m fine’ just isn’t true.
Who is ‘We’?
Why now?
Everyone is sick of hearing about Covid and the global pandemic we have been experiencing, but there can’t be any doubt that it is having an impact on our mental wellbeing. It is exhausting just thinking about all of the changes we have been through in the last year, as a company, as a department, within teams and as individuals. The ground underneath us has been constantly shifting, and that takes its toll on us.
Research is being done which demonstrates the impact this is having on the mental health of different populations. In November a Europe wide survey was undertaken to ask how much of an impact Covid-19 has had on the state of people’s mental health, and as you can see a significant proportion of people in many countries felt that the pandemic had a negative impact on their mental health.
Another cross-Europe study has found a link between loneliness and a high risk of mental health problems, suggesting that the people who reported an increase in loneliness due to the pandemic were up to ten times more at risk of depression, anxiety symptoms and sleep problems. Click here to read the full article.
Everyone is in need of a reminder about the importance of taking care of their mental wellbeing. Some people may never have really had to consciously think about it before and may not know where to start. Some people may have had mental health diagnoses before the pandemic and are experiencing new symptoms. Whatever your previous experience of mental health, mental wellbeing and mental illness, we want to open up conversations and provide tools and support.
What are we doing?
Blog posts
We will be doing a series of blog posts on the Insider, one or two a month, on different topics under the umbrella of mental wellbeing.
Here are some of the ideas we have:
What else would you like to see? What are topics that would be interesting or useful to you?
Social Groups
We will be starting some social groups to bring people together with common interests. The first one is called ‘Eat, Drink and Be Merry’ with a food and drink focus and is a closed Facebook group where only Corporate Shipbuilding colleagues will be able to join. Stay tuned for a separate post on this but in the meantime, if you want to check it out, then simply search ‘Eat, Drink and be Merry with CCS’ on Facebook and request to join.
Mental Health Champions
We have first aiders for our physical health and to support us if we get injured in the workplace. We are here to be your first aiders for your mental wellbeing!
If you are having a bad day and need someone to talk to, we are here for you. You are welcome to call, text or email us (our numbers are in the yellow notes above). If we are not available immediately, we will come back to you as soon as we can.
All discussions will be kept completely confidential and will not be shared with anyone else inside or outside of the organisation.
We are here to be a non-judgemental, listening ear. We have both undertaken an accredited Mental Health First Aid course, and can direct you to other resources which you may find useful.