Industry professionals talk to Samantha Mayling about initiatives to support colleagues in need
World Mental Health Day on Monday encourages people to connect and to make mental health and wellbeing a global priority.
Co-ordinated by the World Health Organization, it’s an opportunity for people with mental health conditions, advocates, employers and employees to recognise progress and be vocal about what needs to be done.
Vertical Travel Group
Chris North, managing director at Vertical Systems, says: “It’s so important to talk.”
Having faced his own “serious challenge”, which got to the point of planning suicide, he’s now an advocate for mental health in the Vertical Travel Group.
“I’ve had various forms of therapy – I’m never cured but know how to manage it,” he says. “I was in a very dark place. Thankfully, I admitted I had issues and sourced treatment.
“It’s a silent killer because people don’t talk about it. It led to me recognising that it’s a big problem and I generally can now spot it.”
He began conversations with colleagues and friends, encouraging them to talk. “Some sourced help – that normalised it and really made a huge difference,” he says.
In lockdown, many colleagues were isolated at home, and some found they were struggling.
“Even without lockdown, many homeworkers face challenges as they have no one to chat to,” says Chris.
The group held coffee mornings to encourage people to speak out.
“The response was amazing. It struck a nerve, even for those who didn’t know they had an issue,” he recalls. “It encouraged people to have open discussions. Years on, people are still reaching out. It’s important to be approachable.”
Chris uses the FormScore app to connect with friends and score how he’s feeling each day. “This platform is useful because it kicks off discussions,” says Chris, who has studied mental health first aid.
“The most important thing is not to judge – listen and let people talk. Even now, I feel a bit down. It’s not all unicorns and rainbows.”
He urges people to change routines and avoid getting stuck in a rut. “Mental health doesn’t discriminate; it can get anyone, young or old.”
Travel Counsellors
Travel Counsellors also has a determined mental health champion in the form of operations director Karen Morris.
“I feel passionate about this; seven or eight years ago, I wasn’t in a great place,” she says. “I have a better understanding, and it’s driven me to make sure people aren’t struggling.”
The homeworking agency has a raft of initiatives under the ‘Speak Up’ banner, offering in-house and professional support.
“We created an environment for everybody to feel comfortable speaking up,” Karen says. “We’ve always had a focus on wellbeing and have revamped our Wellbeing Hub.
It covers various things: mental health, financial wellness, mindfulness, food and fitness.
“This year we launched Wellbeing TCTV [Travel Counsellors TV] to give a ‘big hug’ to colleagues and Travel Counsellors – and reduce stigma about mental health. Each monthly show features a different subject, such as mental health or financial wellness.”
On World Mental Health Day, Wellbeing TCTV will air a film made with Andy’s Man Club, a men’s suicide prevention charity. “Men can find it harder than women to talk about feelings,” says Karen. “But there’s more awareness and openness now.”
The company has more than 40 accredited mental health first-aiders (MHFAs), who can identify telltale signs, such as if someone stops communicating or avoids being part of things. “They listen and signpost external resources and support,” says Karen. “Our MHFAs wear green lanyards so colleagues can spot them.”
Another initiative is the ‘Feelgood Friday’ virtual coffee mornings “to create a safe space for everyone to talk about how they are feeling”.
Staff can consult a trained personal counsellor for free, to ask for advice on finance, relationships, bereavement and mental health.
The company also partners with Able Futures, a government-backed initiative that provides support by phone, email or Teams.
TC Teams Together offers another platform, while the TC Welfare Fund provides financial support. “The worry of finances, such as repaying bounce-back loans, affects wellbeing,” says Karen.
Holidaysplease
Another homeworking agency, Holidaysplease, also has ‘mental health champions’, plus the Everymind at Work app.
Cat Reeves, brand and business growth executive, says the free app features listings for support, exercises, advice, webinar access and opportunities to chat.
“It reminds us to do little things that look after our wellbeing and it gives anybody who may be feeling a little lonely or down a place to turn to for support or company,” she says.
The mental health champions have had requests for workshops on topics such as imposter syndrome and how to build self-esteem – as well as coffee morning requests.
“Regular chats help. Many staff shared their experiences on the app and this helps anybody going through something similar to know they’re not alone,” Cat says.
“It’s been challenging in travel; we’ve done what we can to alleviate pressures and actually gained new people. We tried to ease financial pressures for homeworkers by offering access to a loan fund – £100,000 was put aside.
“Most of our agents are comfortable working from home, but for some it can sometimes feel lonely. Our Sales and Support team keeps in regular contact with agents, and directors present a monthly Zoom update.”
Barrhead reaches out to employees in needThe company launched a mental health support system in 2019 and the stresses felt by many during and after the pandemic mean its role remains vital today Barrhead Travel head of human resources and employee wellbeing Carol-Ann Jones won the Mental Health Matters accolade at Travel Weekly’s Agent Achievement Awards in July. Jones, who has recently left the company, was instrumental alongside HR director Wilma Taylor in implementing a wellness programme in 2019, with a broader employee support system brought in during the pandemic. “You Are Not Alone was launched during winter 2020. It was a really hard time, particularly during the approach to Christmas when families were not permitted to come together,” recalls Taylor. “We had to ensure that we had robust support. It was a successful service, connecting our colleagues to mental health first-aiders when they needed it most. It’s still available today. The contact we receive through the programme showed how invaluable it is. “Every business should consider which resources they can put behind a mental health programme.” Wilma believes some stigma remains around the topic, adding: “There have been strides in removing barriers to discussing mental health, but there is still work to be done. “There’s still a reluctance to come forward. We want every manager to be a trained mental health first-aider. “It’s important for businesses to have at least one person with specialist training and knowledge of mental health and wellness. It’s a broad, complex topic that requires nuanced levels of empathy and understanding.” Barrhead produces a monthly wellbeing newsletter, and a new area within its intranet offers resources. “People are still healing from the pandemic, but there’s a hangover effect because of the challenges around recovery,” says Wilma. “Travel professionals are still working to capacity, so looking after our people is a priority.” She agrees that homeworkers can feel isolated or lonely. “Technology and regular planned events are the best way to tackle this,” she says. “By the nature of our retail stores and offices, it’s a very relaxed and social atmosphere. Recreating that virtually is hard but critical. “It’s about making sure that social touchpoints are there – virtual check‑ins, chat facilities, time to speak socially with colleagues and regular in-person meetings or events.” |