Thursday 4th February 2021 marks Time To Talk Day. Shire hosted virtual sessions throughout the day, to provide our employees with the opportunity to talk about mental health.
What is Time to Talk?
Time to Talk Day is a campaign led by Time To Change, to change the way people think and act about mental health problems; it’s the day that gets the nation talking about mental health. This year’s event might look a little different, but at times like this open conversations about mental health are more important than ever. With “Honesty” and “Relationships” being two of Shire’s core values, we aim to reflect these back into our employees.
Very often, mental health problems are treated as a “forbidden” subject, especially when it comes to work-life. According to mind.org, “1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England” and “1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England”.
How Shire got involved with Time To Talk?
In previous years, we supported the day by encouraging our employees to be open about their mental health in a no-pressure environment, informing them that support is there, should they need it. Due to the current lockdown, our Positive Organised People (also known as our POP team, this is a group of employees responsible for pioneering positivity within the company) hosted 3 sessions via Zoom which featured a variety of interactive games and informative videos to help team members break the ice, and enjoy some tea and biscuits from the comfort of their own homes. Shire is passionate about supporting employees with mental health and as a Mindful Employer, we believe it’s important to raise awareness about Mental Health and to get conversations flowing.
To find out more about how your business can get involved with the Time to Change campaign, visit their website. Or if you’d like to help someone with their mental health or want to seek help for yourself visit MIND, a charity that can help provide advice and support.
