Mental Health Awareness Week: moving more for our mental health.

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Seddon is committed to supporting the physical and mental well-being of all its staff, as well as addressing wider mental health issues in the construction industry. With suicide rates 3.7 times higher in construction than the national average, we always strive to find new ways to participate in Mental Health Awareness Week.

 

As the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week this year was: ‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’, we decided to take this head-on and reap the physical benefits of being active.. Putting a musical spin on things, we did this true Texas-style and to one of our favourite songs, check out what we got up to in our video below. 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7EfO8_qPCB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

Caroline Grainey, social value executive who plays a huge role in supporting our team’s wellbeing and Nicola Hodkinson, director, and trustee of Mates in Mind, shared their insights on how incorporating movement into our daily routines can positively impact mental health.

How does movement contribute to your mental health?

 “Any physical activity helps reduce stress, and as dancing raises your heart rate and works your entire body, it triggers chemical changes in the brain. This enhances your mood, reduces anxiety and depression and can even improve your sleep quality. Dancing can become meditative and free you from the day-to-day stresses of life and work. Music and dance are primal and expressive, and learning dance steps have even been proven to help develop memory and decision-making skills.” – Caroline.

“I think for anyone movement is key, it is very personal. Those  working on site may argue that they get all the movement they need, but this is about doing something ‘different to the day-to-day movement.’ As I work mainly in the office or I’m in the car, I need movement to stay flexible, as well as to ‘zone out’ and do something for myself. Others may make it a team exercise as it is a way of socialising, ultimately it's about doing something that makes you feel good all over.” – Nicola.

 

 

 

 

What does good mental health mean to you?

Caroline said:Having previously worked in the field of mental health for 10 years, Mental Health Awareness Week is something that I feel very passionately about. It’s about feeling positive about yourself and your job, managing your emotions, and functioning effectively in daily life.”

Nicola added: “I like to see it as a building block. I strongly believe that if I am in a good place mentally, I can deal with anything life throws at me. That’s not to say it doesn’t take effort -sometimes I have to give myself a pep talk.”

What were your overall thoughts on the video?

Caroline said: I really wanted to do something different in line with ‘moving more for our mental health’. My 12-year-old daughter suggested we recreate Beyonce’s ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’  TikTok dance, which got such a great response from our team. We all came together, practiced the dance moves, and more importantly, had a good laugh together. It was a lot of fun!”

Nicola said: “It was hilarious, but quite nervy and exhausting when you were doing it. My brain and body definitely got a workout and I kept getting my left and right mixed up which wasn't helpful to the people behind me! The video brought the group of us together, I learnt a new skill, and it definitely showed my vulnerability.  I won't be giving up my day job that’s for sure.”

Did honouring Mental Health Week allow you to reflect on your own well-being?

Caroline said: Absolutely, we all lead busy lives, and sometimes you can become so absorbed by your work or home life and your well-being is often the thing that suffers first. It showed me the positive effect of taking time out of our day to move, by yourself or with others. Even if it's as simple as taking time to stretch, get up from your desk and walk around the office - or get out and get some fresh air - movement breaks are crucial to allow your mind time to rest.”

Nicola said: “Definitely, as well as  the video, many of the department teams went for group walks in the nearby parks. It was good to step away from conversations around work and focus on the personal lives of each other. The message about movement resonated far and wide, highlighting that well-being takes baby steps and every day we take those steps, we move as individuals, as teams and as a business.”