For Mental Health Awareness Week in 2024, the theme "Movement: moving for our mental health" takes centre stage, emphasising the impact physical activity can have on our mental wellbeing. In today's fast-paced lifestyle, making time to incorporate movement into our daily routines is crucial for maintaining optimal mental health. Engaging in regular physical activity has been shown to reduce stress, alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improve overall mood. By promoting movement as a means of nurturing mental health, workplaces can empower employees to prioritise self-care and incorporate healthy habits into their daily lives.

Whether it's encouraging short breaks for stretching or organising group fitness activities, companies can play a pivotal role in fostering a culture that values and supports physical activity for mental wellbeing. By embracing the theme of movement, organisations can inspire positive change, energise their workforce, and cultivate a workplace environment where mental health thrives.

What you can do for yourself:
​

• Talk about your feelings. Just being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone with any problems you’re going through and can offer a different view from whatever’s going on in your head.​
• Stay active. Physical activity is not only good for your body, it’s also great for your mind.
• Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep and mental health are closely linked: mental ill-health can affect your sleep and poor sleep can affect your mental wellbeing.
• Eat well. A balanced diet can improve your sense of wellbeing and your mood.
• Practice mindfulness, a way to be fully engaged and present in the moment.

As an employer in the construction industry...

We understand how vital it is to support your workforce and promote good mental health because absenteeism, productivity and work performance can all be affected by mental health issues. Workers suffering from poor mental health might be afraid to speak up because they’re worried about how it may impact their employment which is why it's incredibly important to create a culture where mental health is seen as just as important as physical safety.

What you can do to help your team:
​

• Produce, implement and communicate a mental health at work plan.
• Develop mental health awareness among employees.
• Encourage open conversations about mental health and the support available when employees are struggling.
• Provide employees with good working conditions and ensure they have a healthy work life balance and opportunities for development.
• Promote effective people management through line managers and supervisors.
• Routinely monitor employee mental health and wellbeing.

We are here for you to turn to if you need support. Use any of our channels below to reach out and seek advice.

Download our Mental Health Awareness Week assets, including graphics and social media copy, so you can inspire others to do good.

DOWNLOAD ASSETS