Today marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year the theme is ‘Body Image’. We all have mental health, just like we do physical health, but sometimes it can be hard to know how to look after your own mental health and wellbeing. Our mental health doesn’t always stay the same and can fluctuate depending on different circumstances and lifestyle choices. This week is about being open about our Mental health, and trying to diminish the stigma that is associated with talking about our Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Auctus Management Group Ltd (AMG) and its subsidiary businesses are putting initiatives in place to try and reduce the negative impact that a working environment can have on a person. As well as ensuring their staff feel that their workplace is a safe and comfortable environment to seek out help if they need it.
There is also strong evidence that workplaces with high levels of mental wellbeing are more productive, and addressing wellbeing at work can increase productivity by 12% according to the Mental Health Foundation. High levels of fatigue from working long hours can result in lower standards of performance and safety, as well as having an effect on the individual’s wellbeing. With this being said, RSS Infrastructure Ltd (RSSI) have a fatigue monitoring system in place which commences during the rostering process, where the in-house CRM is used to calculate the travel time to and from site, shift duration and work type. Any concerns with travel exceedance or shift duration (14 hours from door to door) are automatically flagged ensuring that workers cannot be rostered to shifts or projects unless adequate measures, such as local accommodation, are put in place to ensure that ‘Everyone [returns] home safe, everyday”.
RSSI have also taken precautions to make the transportation of workers to the site safer. They have become the first company in the rail sector to utilise a specialist Driver Awareness Warning System (DAWS). The warning system is a dash-mounted device and focuses on the driver’s retina and measures their ‘blinking pattern’ sounding audible warnings if signs of drowsiness, fatigue and/or attention is diverted from the road.
As well as this AMG have encouraged a number of staff members to undertake a Mental Health First Aider training course, aiding staff with the understanding of Mental Health and wellbeing and to provide them with the knowledge and confidence to administer the first means of support to anyone suffering from mental ill health. There are now 12 ‘Wellbeing Champions’ for AMG, RSSI and INFRA Skills Ltd, who meet regularly to discuss and arrange appropriate well-being initiatives for implementation. The Champions will also help to drive the well-being message across the workforce and highlight any concerns.
Mental Health issues can range from every day worries, to life-long conditions. Support systems such as AMG’s ‘Well Being Champions’, are crucial within the workplace to aid the nationwide campaign to support those experiencing mental health issues.
For more information about Mental Health Awareness Week visit: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week
