“A problem shared is a problem halved.”
Today is Time to Talk Day – a day to encourage people to have conversations about mental health. Taking just 10 minutes to open up to a friend, family member or colleague can be enough to build lifechanging connections and a community of support should you need it. We want to use Time to Talk Day to share what K2 does as that community of support: the initiatives we run and the resources we provide to encourage open conversation on mental health.
Why is it important to talk?
One in four of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year. One of the biggest problems faced by those who are suffering is the potential difficulty of talking about it. Feeling comfortable seeking help when you need it is really important, help which may take the form of something as simple as somebody who is willing to listen: verbalising your thoughts can help to clear your mind. Time to Talk Day strives to erase the stigma and stereotypes that surround mental health, making those difficult conversations less difficult.
Steps K2 take to encourage conversations around mental health:
We have introduced a number of initiatives to encourage open conversation about mental health:
Our Mental Health First Aiders
The role of the Mental Health First Aider is to support employees in the workplace who are experiencing mental ill health or distress. This support can range from having a non-judgmental conversation with an individual to directing them towards additional support. We have a number of professionally trained mental health first aiders who are open to hearing any concerns of our employees.
K2 Talks
K2 Talks form part of our ‘Lunch and Learn’ hour at K2 and gives anyone the opportunity to share a story, work-related or not. Subjects range from our involvement in charity work to personal struggles – colleagues opening up about their mental health and inspiring those who might be facing similar challenges. Recently, Senior Relocation Manager Kayleigh Haslett gave a talk on her mental health, telling her story and explaining the methods which helped her battle the issues she was experiencing:
“It’s important to know the signs when you are not feeling yourself, and to speak to someone trusted, just to lighten that burden. My friends and family would say I am an open book, but even I struggle at times to express how I am feeling. Sometimes, just having the strength to say to those closest to me ‘I am having a blue time,’ is enough to lift me slightly. Talking is so important.”
Wellness Area on intranet
Last month, K2 launched a Wellness Area on our Intranet which aims to raise awareness about mental health, cancer and the menopause. Each subject has its own page which includes guidance, a range of resources, and details of relevant charities. These three pages are only the beginning; we plan to add further pages in the near future.
Global Marketing Director James Marshall’s ‘Walk & Talk’s
Team communication is fundamental to delivering any project. K2’s Marketing Team holds a daily morning ‘Scrum’ – a thirty-minute meeting for each team member to talk through their tasks for the day. If anyone has any concerns, this is the perfect time to voice them, giving others the opportunity to offer support.
To make sure every member of the team is staying afloat not only with regards to their workload, but also in relation to anything that’s on their mind either inside or outside of work, each week Global Marketing Director James Marshall takes one of the team on a thirty minute ‘Walk & Talk’ around Guildford. James explains:
“When you’re walking shoulder-to-shoulder with someone, it is so much easier to talk about the more difficult subjects. You’re both out in the open, you don’t have to keep eye contact, you don’t feel constrained in a meeting room, and awkward silences are easier because you have the noise of nature around you. We’re only human, and we all need to talk. It’s really important that everyone has a voice and is given time to talk in a comfortable space. These ‘Walk & Talk’s ensure that.”
A global network of support:
Whilst Time to Talk Day is UK focused, our support initiatives expand to across all of our global offices. Although spread vast across the country, K2 Brazil are a tight-knit team who find a week every month to come together and work in the office, enjoying each-others company. One morning they will have a team breakfast, as well as making sure they have most of their meals together – “meal time in Brazil is the time for strengthening relationships!” (Patricia Tavares, Country Director)
“We need to remember, it is okay to not be okay at times. Life is hard. Be kind to yourself and remember that you are not weak for struggling; you are amazing for recognising life’s challenges and wanting to do something to handle them better. It’s an oldie but a goodie: a problem shared is a problem halved.” Kayleigh Haslett
