Advisers are practicing what they preach when it comes to mental health this Time to Talk Day.
Today is Time to Talk Day – a day dedicated to driving mental health conversations and ensuring friends, families, communities, and workplaces come together to talk, listen and change lives.
And it appears the concept of the day is one advisers take seriously all year round.
Nick Hale, director at Engage Health Group, told Health & Protection his firm has invested in mental health training with Loch Associates Group for some of its staff.
Hale explains the training covers spotting poor mental health symptoms in colleagues and within themselves and learning how to broach these issues at home and the workplace.
The firm also provides staff with access to private medical insurance (PMI), health cash plans and the YuLife app which provides free counselling sessions and GP services to gain faster treatments and referrals for anything they may be concerned about, along with step-count and meditation challenges.
Hale added Engage has also continued to offer staff flexible working since the onset of the pandemic.
“Giving our teams the flexibility to work where they want, while also combining working from home with time spent in the office, means that their individual needs are met,” Hale said.
“While some will want to work fully in the office, which they are more than welcome to do, others prefer a combination, enabling them to address any personal or family issues that might be happening.
“We have found this reduces stress and presenteeism massively, making our staff feel like they are understood and cared for at work.”
‘I want to get this right more than anything’
For Isaac Feiner, owner of Lifepoint Healthcare, it is important that his business practices what it preaches.
For this reason, Feiner explained the firm offers staff PMI, a cash plan, group life and income protection which comes with employee assistance programmes and mental health support services in various formats.
“We have put in place multiple products to ensure the health and wellbeing of our wonderful team,” Feiner added.
“Though we are a smaller organisation then perhaps a large SME or corporation and the HR and support structure is less formal and more personal, the fundamentals remain the same.
“We are all humans with deep needs. We all go through the everyday ups and downs of personal and work life and our mental health is a very important consideration.”
Feiner noted that as an employer “I want to get this right more than anything. The health and mental wellbeing of my staff is paramount.”
“In fact, I would say that my team’s wellbeing is the most important thing on my agenda. Without this as a baseline, we simply don’t have a proper, effective business,” he continued.
“As the leader of the organisation, I have spent a lot of time educating myself in this area and take the time to study the signs. I took training from Bupa and read through every manager guide I could find from multiple insurers and professionals in the field.”
Overflowing stress bucket
Alan Knowles, managing director of Cura, noted the organisation provides vulnerability and mental health training to all its staff.
“It’s at the very core of what we do and it shines through with everyone we speak to,” Knowles said.
“Speaking to clients like they are your own mum or dad, being friendly and empathetic and signposting where support is needed, are all key to helping clients in difficult circumstances.
“But it’s also important that staff look after themselves. Talking about death and serious Illness all day can be mentally challenging whether you realise it or not.
“We encourage staff to use mental health support on their group insurance plans, to just stop work and take a walk if things get tough and to make sure they take time for themselves.”
But Knowles added that like many business owners, he has been guilty of looking after others but not himself.
“I love the stress bucket analogy and last year my stress bucket had no holes, so the water (stress) overflowed the metaphorical bucket and the result was not pretty,” he continued.
“So now I make sure I have outlets, I make time for myself through exercise, reading and painting. Work is important but personal wellbeing is paramount.”
Naomi Greatorex, owner of Heath Protection Solutions, agrees, adding: “I go to the gym most mornings – even if that is really early in the morning.
“I think it’s just making sure you have time in the week to go out for a coffee with friends and just have a chat and catch up with people.”