Blog. Mental Health Awareness Week 2020

May 18, 2020 | Author: Jeremy Gibson

Back in January when we started planning for Mental Health Awareness Week nobody could have possibly known how different the world would be by the time May 18th came by.

But here we are at the start of a very different week to the one we’d planned for. Our industry has effectively been hibernated with hundreds of thousands of people on furlough or even having lost their jobs. There’s talk about moving out of lockdown and businesses are already planning innovative ways they can re-open and maintain social distancing, but there are still more questions than answers at the moment -‘Uncertainty’ is the word of our times.

One thing’s for sure, no matter what the future holds, we’ll do our best to protect the wellbeing of the industry providing financial and psychological support to our most vulnerable colleagues.

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 we’re launching a brand new COVID19 wellbeing hub on our website. In association with Compass UK & Ireland and supported by Pladis, Fair Kitchens & The Savoy Educational Trust our new section looks at the practical and mental health implications of living under lockdown.

We have resources to help those facing financial difficulties, struggling with negative behaviours or coming to terms with the reality of home schooling or isolation. Check it out here.

We’re also putting the final touches to a new film featuring fellow industry people who have experienced mental health problems in the past, each providing their tips for dealing with a mental health problem while isolated from colleagues and with the added pressures of being stuck at home.

 

Finally, being physically active is also beneficial for our mental health - on Wednesday we’ll be calling all cyclists, joggers, runners and walkers regardless of age or ability to collectively cycle, jog, run or walk 19,491 miles, the length of the entire UK coastline. The sponsorship funds raised will support UK hospitality employees who are facing ongoing financial and emotional uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We can’t wait to tell you all about it on Wednesday.

Enjoy our new section and please share it with your networks on social media.

We’ve got you.