Every year, Mental Health Awareness Week aims to raise awareness of mental health and to fight against the stigma that may stop people asking for help when they need it most. This year’s focus is the power and potential of kindness.
Even though there is still a long way to go, we at Havas Just:: are so encouraged by progress made as we witness more and more people are willing to be open about their personal experiences. Responding with kindness doesn’t only help them, but it encourages others to feel it’s okay to ask for help, and understand that they aren’t always alone in feeling the way they do.
Given the current situation we are all living with, showing kindness to others could be a good antidote to isolation, as it can help to create connections between people and create a sense of belonging.
In the UK we have seen this first-hand, with stories of small acts of kindness every day, from picking up some shopping for an elderly neighbour, to raising over £30 million for the NHS at the age of 100 years old (yes Captain Tom, we mean you). On a bigger scale, the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme had more than 750,000 applicants in just four days – highlighting the desire to help that so many of us felt when ‘doing our bit’ by just staying at home was not quite enough.
With many charities now asking for volunteers to give a helping hand, and with some of us having more time on our hands than usual, it might be a good time to think how you could get involved with a cause that means something to you. You might find that getting involved turns out to be just as rewarding for you as it is for the cause you choose to support.
But kindness to others, or practicing self-compassion as discussed in our blog post earlier this week, isn’t the only way to look after your mental health.
Looking after our wellbeing and mental health is something that we at Havas Just::, and throughout HAVAS more broadly, take very seriously. We are lucky to have the opportunity to experience a range of educational sessions, support services and guidance, such as weekly ‘Wellness Wednesday’ online sessions with our resident meditation teacher, Rachael. It is a great opportunity to recharge for 30 minutes and break up the day, especially while we are all at home. Meditation can help us to not only rest better at night, but can also help us cope with anxiety or depression – common feelings for those experiencing trouble with their mental health.
Being more kind in big or small ways, whether it’s to friends, family or strangers, can transform both us and our society. We hope that this Mental Health Awareness Week has acted as a reminder or jump-start for everyone to think about what they can do to be kind and help someone else – it might be exactly what we all need right now.
For anyone who would like to find out more about help available for those experiencing mental health struggles – or just to find out more information – please take a look at the Mental Health Foundation website.