What Pickerings Lifts are doing to support positive mental health | Because our people matter
What Pickerings Lifts are doing to support positive mental health | Because our people matter
Everyone’s mental health is important, and your mental health specifically, is extremely important to you.
You need to be doing everything possible to look after yourself, especially in the unprecedented times we’re living through.
At the beginning of the first UK lockdown in March 2020 we simply did not know what to expect.
But after two lockdowns in 2020, and 2021 opening with a third lockdown, we’ve all felt isolated at times, whether we’ve been working from home, furloughed, still in the office, or out on the road.
The truth is that the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted so many people, on so many different levels, that it has sometimes felt as though we’ve been bombarded with negativity, sadness, confusion and anger, whichever way we’ve turned.
You’re allowed to feel that way… most of us have felt that way at some point over the last year and a half.
It’s not been easy. And it’s no wonder people’s mental health has been suffering.
And that’s why, as things start to return to some sort of normal… whatever ‘normal’ might mean moving forward… we need to start talking about our mental health with our colleagues, family and friends more than ever.
Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 10-16 May 2021.
The theme for this week is ‘Nature’.
“Nature is so central to our psychological and emotional health, that it’s almost impossible to realise good mental health for all without a greater connection to the natural world.”
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/why-nature
We agree with the Mental Health Foundation.
That’s why we’re supporting our Pickerings Lifts colleagues by providing well-being guides.
These guides cover how to boost your mood, how to commit to healthy eating, taking exercise, and financial well-being.
Pickerings Lifts colleagues can download these well-being guides on the company benefits website or app.
We’ll also be providing the best advice we have, on how to maintain a positive mental attitude, directly from our own staff. Some of which, is below.
Although this advice is anonymous, in line with our beliefs, these are genuine nuggets of help and support, being used by #RealPeople that you work alongside, and that is being used each and every day, to help them stay healthy and positive.
You can follow our Mental Health Awareness social posts here…
This week will also see us providing further resources to our staff on how to become one with nature, the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week.
Here are three ideas to help you get out and be ‘in nature’…
Look around you. How many plants can you see? How many living things? Try to forget the past and the future and just be ‘in the moment’. Feel the growing warmth of spring on your face. Summer’s on its way.
Take a minute to appreciate the clouds and the changing weather. See how the natural world takes no notice of any issues we might have. Appreciate and be thankful for the natural world in your daily life.
Close your eyes and take deep breaths, then listen. What can you hear? What can you smell? Take in your surroundings. Consciously slow down and give yourself a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Exercise can improve your mental health enormously.
Exercising outdoors ‘in nature’ is superior to exercising indoors for enhancing mental health.
“As little as five minutes of outdoor exercise can improve self-esteem and mood”
Barton and Petty, 2010, https://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/6-ways-use-exercise-improve-your-mental-and-emotional-health
Outdoor exercise can also lower any tension and anger you might be feeling.
Plus, whilst you’re outdoors, you’re absorbing vitamin D, which helps manage any depressive symptoms.
Interestingly, low vitamin D is also associated with greater Covid-19 risk, so it’s really important to ensure you get your regular dose (https://www.hdruk.ac.uk/news/does-vitamin-d-protect-against-covid-19/)
If you’re not used to exercising regularly, it can be a bit daunting. Everyone feels that way. Little and often is the key to creating the habit of exercise.
If you improve your motivation, you’re more likely to succeed.
You can improve your motivation by…
Don’t have a smart watch?
Download a fitness tracker on your phone, record your exercise and watch the steps/miles you walk mount up. It can be very satisfying.
The British Heart Foundation have a list of free walking apps here:
The positive mental health effects of gardening are well known.
A report in the Mental Health Journal* confirmed that gardening reduced stress and improved mood, and this created a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Gardeners themselves agree:
“Out of 317 people who took part in table-top gardening sessions run by Thrive across Berkshire, Hampshire and south Oxfordshire, 80 per cent reported better mental health as a result, with 93 per cent saying they had improved their confidence and motivation.
Across the pond in Philadelphia, 144 gardeners were asked for the reasons they did it and mental health was second to recreation as the most important factors.
While gardens can be relaxing, they can also be places where our efforts result in a real sense of achievement, boosting confidence and self-esteem.”
Mindfulness is one of those buzzwords that can be over-used. It can sound a bit ‘new age-ey’ and I’d bet that if you asked your colleagues, few would say they practice it.
But in fact, it’s amazing to see just how many of our colleagues are actually practicing mindfulness, even if they don’t realise it, because a large part of it is about consciously taking time out to relax.
Last week we conducted a survey amongst Pickerings Lifts staff.
We simply asked ‘what have you done over the past week to look after your mental health?’
Here are the results…
Every single one of these answers is related to mindfulness in some way. And mindfulness really does help promote having a positive mental attitude.
When you go for a run at the end of the day – as many of us – do to clear your mind and separate work issues from home life… that’s living in the moment… that’s mindfulness.
When you meet up with your family – even if it’s out in the garden or on the doorstep – that’s taking care of your mental health by being with your support group… that’s mindfulness.
When you’re picking up your hobby, be that reading, painting, sewing, golf, playing on your Xbox, or whatever you do as a hobby… that’s giving yourself a break… that’s mindfulness.
Mindfulness is about deliberately being kind to yourself… the weight of the world cannot be supported by you on your own… so when you say “I’m going to go for a walk to clear my head” or “I need a break, so I’m popping round Celia’s for ten minutes”, although you might not realise it, you are unconsciously adopting mindfulness.
Oh, and here’s what one of our colleagues said about taking on ‘the weight of the world’ in the survey…
“If it’s not going to matter in five years’ time, don’t spend more than five minutes worrying about it now.”
They’re absolutely correct.
Be kind to yourself. Don’t borrow trouble, and make sure you’re looking after your mental well-being, because you matter, both to you, and to a lot of people around you who care about you!
Over the course of this year, Pickerings Lifts is going to train and deploy Mental Health Champions, from all over the UK.
We were actually ahead of the curve, because we requested volunteers pre-pandemic, but like many things, the roll-out has been delayed. Now that we’re coming back out of lockdown, that’s back on the list of things to do.
Keep your eye out for more information.
In the meantime, whilst we’re waiting for our Mental Health Champions to come ‘on-stream’, Amanda Stonier, our QHSE Manager for Pickerings Lifts, is a trained mental health first aider.
In 2017, Amanda undertook the training in Mental Health First Aid, and in 2019 took a seven day intensive training course with Mental Health First Aid England to become a trainer in Mental Health First Aid, so she’s earned the badge.
It’s an amazing thing to do and something you can tell she is very passionate about…
“Once we’ve found our ‘new normal’, it will be exciting to train colleagues and equip them with tools to help themselves and others in the workplace. You’d be amazed how much of a difference a listening ear can make to someone who’s struggling. You don’t have to say anything, just listening can really help. “
Lastly, to help promote Mental Health Awareness Week, and to give you some practical advice from real people who work alongside you every day, here are just seven of the more than forty responses we received when we asked the following question…
“What is your best advice for keeping positive?”
“Don’t feel bad about feeling down. It’s allowed, but try not to sweat the small stuff as it can become overwhelming.”
“Don’t bottle things up, talk to someone.”
“Take life one day at a time, set yourself achievable tasks, and choose to be around positive people.”
“Think about the lovely people currently in your life and enjoy the stunning nature/sunshine around you every single day.”
“Focus your mind on good things. Try and start each day with an open positive mind. Have things planned to look forward to even if it’s a phone call/walk with a friend/family member.”
“Make sure you communicate with people when you’re really busy. Keeping things to yourself when you’re under pressure can lead to feeling run down and overwhelmed.”
“Discuss problems as they arise, with people you trust and can help advise you, or simply listen to you. Don’t let issues build up.”
Some really easy pointers that may help…
Write down three things you’re thankful for each day.
These could be a particular family member, a friend, your pets, where you live, or even that it’s sunny that day, or you’ve had a good night’s sleep… anything that makes you smile… then give yourself a moment to really think about whatever you’ve written down, and feel the positive warmth you get from doing it.
It would be extremely rare for someone not to be able to find three things to be thankful for, and even in those rarest of moments, those moments don’t last!
All Pickerings Lifts colleagues have access to confidential 24/7 support via freephone, SMS, online and secure email.
These lines of communications are operated with a qualified councillor, not a Pickerings Lifts employee, and this ensures confidentiality and reassurance to our employees.
*Mental Health Review Journal, 2013: ‘A review of gardening-based interventions for people experiencing mental health difficulties reported that benefits include a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety and an increase in attentional capacity and self-esteem. Key benefits include emotional benefits such as reduced stress and improved mood.’
Pickerings Lifts is one of the oldest engineering firms in the United Kingdom, with an unbroken history of family ownership and management, now in its fifth generation.
We are the UK’s leading lift specialist company, starting from humble beginnings over 160 years ago
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A look into the history of Pickerings Lifts
Staff from across the company take on EOR 202(N) training
Pickerings Europe Ltd
Globe Elevator Works
P.O. Box 19
Stockton on Tees
Cleveland
TS20 2AD
T:+44 (0) 1642 607161
F:+44 (0) 1642 677638
E:contact@pickeringslifts.co.uk
