Health and wellbeing in the workplace are issues that have really come to the fore in recent years and Samaritans Awareness Day presents a perfect opportunity to review whether your business is doing as much as it could.
Taking place this year on 24 July, the day was created by the Samaritans to create awareness of mental health and to encourage local branches to organise events to highlight the issue.
It is also a reminder that there are people available to talk at any time of the day and night if you are struggling to cope.
The day provides an opportunity for business leaders to consider how they deal with health in the workplace and if more can be done to help those who may be silently grappling with negative thoughts.
Data from Mental Health First Aid England indicates that 25% of British workers have reported feeling unable to cope with workplace stress, with 79% of employees experiencing moderate-to-high stress levels.
Some 10% of UK adults took time off for mental health reasons last year, costing the economy £57.3 billion annually.
Financial pressure is the key external stressor, affecting 41% of workers, while 80% say it makes them anxious or depressed at least once a week.
Jack Hayes, the founder of the Mental Health Speakers Agency , has helped support multiple businesses with strategies for the best ways to tackle the issue of mental health in the workplace.
He said: “The emotional and social wellbeing of employees has become increasingly important and the day is a key date in the calendar for business leaders to encourage employees to exchange ideas on improving mental health.
“Prioritising mental health in the workplace is crucial because it impacts on productivity, absenteeism and employee retention.
“One of the best ways to discuss these areas is to book a world-leading expert to give a keynote speech to catalyse discussions of what more could be done to support employees who may be affected.”
Based on extensive research from hundreds of events shows that the top 20 speakers for Samaritans Awareness day are:
- Dame Kelly Holmes – Olympic gold medallist
- Katie Piper – acid attack survivor
- Toto Wolff – Formula 1 team principal
- Jason Fox – former special forces officer
- Steve Peters – CEO of Chimp Management
- Neil Laybourn – director of Wellbeing Ideas
- Ruby Wax – actress and comedian
- Jonny Benjamin – founder of Beyond
- Shaun Murphy – snooker world champion
- Victoria Pendleton – Olympic and world cycling champion
- Anna Williamson – dating agent on Celebs Go Dating
- Sir Andrew Strauss – ex-England cricket captain
- Beverley Callard – Coronation Street legend
- Gareth Gates – singer and songwriter
- Nigel Owens – Rugby Union referee
- Colin Jackson – Olympian
- Simon Weston – soldier and survivor
- James Cracknell – rowing world champion
- Jamie Laing – TV personality
- John Hartson – former professional footballer
For more information, please see: https://champions-speakers.co.uk/mental-health-wellbeing-speakers
Image Source: Unsplash
