Companies in the travel trade industry are participating in a variety of initiatives for Mental Health Awareness Week this week.
Mental Health Awareness Week, hosted by the Mental Health Foundation charity and supported by other charities across the country, aims to raise awareness of mental health as well as inspire action to promote good mental health for all.
#EmpowerHalfHour
Global Travel Group has begun a series of activities for members and staff to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, as part of the #EmpowerHalfHour campaign.
They will be encouraged to spend 30 minutes a day participating in a mindful activity, such as team bonding sessions, quizzes, and going on a walk.
Global commercial director Cherie Richards also undertook mental health training as part of a two-day course set by the Mental Health First Aid England last month.
She said: “We are at the start of our journey to implement a wider initiative to arm our staff with not only tools to support their mental wellbeing but to train the wider teams to spot mental health issues.”
Let’s talk
In order to normalise conversations around mental health, members of staff at Hays Travel are sharing their personal stories as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.
“We’re using our intranet in Hays to share these stories across the whole company,” said Emily Wilson, from the Hays Travel graduate management programme.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line staff have also shared their experiences with mental health and showed their support in a video that is being circulated across the company.
Kelly Ashby, well-being & ability employee resource group lead, said: “It is really important for employees to feel they are able to share their own experiences with others in the workplace to normalise conversations around mental health.”
Time to Change
Hays Travel has signed the Time to Change pledge, joining over 900 employers in England who are working to end mental health discrimination.
The pledge allows firms to show a commitment to changing how its employees think, act and talk about mental health as well as ensuring that employees facing such problems feel supported within the business.
Hays Travel head of human resources Helen Liddle said: “Our employees’ health and wellbeing is extremely important to us which is why we are committed to providing an environment that promotes good health.
“We will continue to invest time and resources into raising awareness and providing the best possible support for our employees. This pledge is the first step to demonstrate our commitment and I am very proud to be part of such an important campaign.”
British Airways has also signed up to the Time to Change pledge. As part of the campaign, mental health ambassador and TV fashion stylist Gok Wan shared how he overcame his mental health struggles and urged others to talk more about how they’re feeling
Wan joined BA’s chief operating officer Klaus Goersch when he signed the pledge this morning at Heathrow Terminal 5. Goersch said: “With one in four British workers living with a mental health condition, it is important that we do all we can to help and support those who need it.”
British Airways has some 130 wellbeing and inclusion advisers within the business, and they will continue to increase mental health awareness within the business and through working with leading charity organisations.
Mental Health Matters
Travel Weekly launched its mental health campaign, Mental Health Matters at a special Travel Weekly’s Business Breakfast last week, alongside its new-look design and other initiatives including a £100K Pitch investment competition and a Future of Travel Selling conference.
Mental Health Matters will aim to address the issues associated with mental health in the workplace in the travel industry.
Are you raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing in your travel industry workplace? Email natalie.marsh@travelweekly.co.uk with details.