Solent Mind is campaigning for Hampshire-based employers to ensure staff wellbeing as a priority, to protect those with caring responsibilities, juggling work with home-schooling or whilst living in isolation.

Emma Fernandes, Business Development Manager for Solent Mind, says: ‘Lockdown is hard for so many people. As a mental health charity, we are taking the wellbeing needs of our staff very seriously at this difficult time, by offering flexible working to help them with home schooling, and would recommend other employers ensure staff wellbeing is a priority during lockdown.'

“At Solent Mind we are still here to support people online, on the phone and through our app. We also offer training for workplaces to help organisations promote better mental wellbeing.”

Here's our ten tips to help your workforce get through the winter lockdown:

1. Encourage teams to take exercise in the daylight. Staying active, even if people don’t feel like it at the time, will always boost mood. They could tune into a virtual yoga class or get outside for a quick walk. Our wellbeing app has some great exercise classes that can be done in your living room!
2. Offer flexible working hours. Be prepared to be more flexible to ensure you get the best from staff and encourage people to take their leave and use it to do something nice for themselves.
3. Hold virtual coffee breaks, to check in with colleagues and don’t talk about work! Keep checking in with your team. When you’re not seeing each other face to face you might not pick up on clues that they are struggling, so make regular check-ins a priority.
4. Show you are human too, for example- its ok to say you need a break from the screen, are going outside for a walk, have to check on the children ...and share what helps your wellbeing.
5. Organise time away from screens. Ensure staff do have time when they disconnect from a computer, as too many Zoom or Teams calls can cause burnout. As a rule of thumb if it's a call between just two people, can this be done via phone instead? Try scheduling a 45 minute meeting to include time for a break before the next one. During longer meetings some managers include a break for stretching or just walking round the room.
6. Ring-fence meeting-free afternoons on the calendar, so staff can have more time to focus on tasks and catch up with emails.
7. Be kind. Primarily, show staff you trust them, and you are there for them. Now isn't a time for micro-managing techniques. It's a time for empathy and kindness.
8. Encourage innovation and creativity within the team. Being creative can be a great way to use mindfulness without people even realising it. If you concentrate on the here and now through a craft activity, you're already doing something really positive to manage your mental health.
9. Maintain a focus on the future. We can go into survival mode during crisis meaning it's harder for us to focus on longer term plans.
10. Remind staff of what support is available to them. Do not assume staff just know and guide them towards resources to support them during this difficult time. Our Support Line offers informal tips, advice and a listening ear to anyone feeling low, lonely or anxious.

If your business needs to break the taboo and talk mental health and wellbeing, join us for our new webinar in partnership with 2Viz on 28th January at 4pm, where we'll discuss:

• The current challenges facing employers
• How you can improve the mental health and wellbeing of your teams
• How our app could help your team stay in control of stress and anxiety

Register Now

Read how people are coping with a winter lockdown: