Creating a mentally healthy workplace

In August, team managers and leaders across PKAVS met for a training session with NHS Tayside and learned about how we can better support each other and all our staff towards better health and wellbeing.

This day-long course offered practical knowledge and and opportunities to reflect on how we can create a mentally healthy culture at PKAVS.

Here are some thoughts from staff members who took part in the session. Keep scrolling for some techniques on how to promote wellbeing at work and a link to the full slides.

We hope the benefits of this open dialogue will be felt by all of our team members. If you have any thoughts to share on the topic of mental health and wellbeing, please let us know!

Sarah: 'My biggest takeaway was the concept of "presenteeism". Within the social care sector, we often have a strong attitude towards being present at work, even if we don’t feel 100%. Although the individual may believe they are doing the right thing for themselves and others, it could also suggest that the individual isn’t valuing their recovery time or seeing it as less important. It can lead to burnout and resentment.

Although taking time off work doesn’t feel good, it may be the best thing someone can do in the long term; for themselves and for service delivery. We should be celebrating employees when they step into work under difficult circumstances, but equally celebrating them when they acknowledge they need to rest and take a work break'

Margaret: 'I really felt I came away with a better understanding the importance of looking after the staff team in the workplace .I feel that we all tend to think of the workplace more than we think of ourselves .I agree that we really need to take care of ourselves and really take a step back from work when things get bad.'

Raymond: 'I think the one biggest point I took from the training more than anything was senior staff must practice what they preach. I like to think we are all doing our best to make sure our staff are as well looked after as possible in terms of a mentally healthy workplace but we need to look after ourselves too which I don’t think we always do.   

I plan on meeting up at a future coordinator meeting to start to discuss how we can implement some of what was discussed at the carers centre and Shopmobility.'

You can find the slides to the training below and as a link on our Intranet homepage.

Creating a Mentally Healthy Workplace Aug24.pdf

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