It’s that planning time of year again!
Mental Health Awareness Week (23 – 29 September 2024) is a highlight in the workplace wellbeing calendar, spotlighting the hard work you’ve invested all year. It’s a prime opportunity to launch new initiatives and make a real impact in your workplace.
Similarly, R U OK? Day (12 September 2024) and World Mental Health Day (10 October 2024) are key dates for driving change globally.
Get fresh ideas here
There’s no point reinventing the wheel, so here are some great ideas for recognising these dates, crowd-sourced from the ROW community (a big thank you to everyone who submitted!):
Connection and Community Building
- At My Everyday Wellbeing we have created a ‘mix and mingle bingo’ to encourage connection, we created a mental health activities toolkit, we are running an online webinar about the impacts of and recovery from trauma and designing content about connection and community.
- Quizzes, competitions, and food are planned to bring people together for a purpose.
- In previous years, I focused on the ‘connection’ element of MHAW, running initiatives like bringing board and card games to work for people to play together during breaks.
- Coffee connects where you’re randomly assigned to meet up with someone you don’t know, using our social media platform.
- We’re taking approximately 10 staff during work hours to plant trees on Motutapu Island, engaging with nature, fresh air, community service, and physical activity for positive mental health.
Mental Health Awareness and Support
- We created a mental health activities toolkit.
- We are running an online webinar about the impacts of and recovery from trauma.
- Wellbeing Month will include a video on how to ask “R U Okay?”, a coffee roulette for Mental Health Awareness Week, and promotion of EAP support for World Mental Health Day.
- We love Random Acts of Kindness, and while it is on 1 September, it’s nice to stretch it out for a week during Mental Health Awareness Week/R U Okay Day.
- Engage HSW Committees to run coffee and korero or hot chocolate sessions, covering the basics of what to start with and bringing in connecting activities like coloring competitions and quizzes.
- EAP on-site support will be available.
- In May (Mental Health Week in Canada), we did a panel with participants from each of our ERG groups, sharing experiences and stories to highlight the intersectionality of people with diverse backgrounds, cultivating awareness, belonging, and compassion.
- Tea and talk, team time, and shared lunch/morning tea are planned to promote casual, supportive conversations.
Activities and Events
- A Wellbeing Bingo will feature weekly themes and easy-to-action tasks.
- Participating in sporting events as a company team, such as the Auckland Marathon, Terry Fox Fun, Waka 100/25, Round the Bays, Round the Bridges, and indoor soccer or netball teams.
- A scavenger hunt and inviting a chef for a live cooking demonstration for healthy eating, as good nutrition is key for mental wellbeing.
- Dog Day: Bring pets into the office.
- Toolbox BBQs and food trucks will provide enjoyable food options during events.
- Shared lunch for Matariki.
- A week of Random Acts of Kindness: anonymous gestures to lift someone’s day.
- Keynote speakers and bringing in service dogs to the office for a furry, friendly visit.
Feeling inspired? Share your ideas or plans in the comments
